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unlive

Unknown

Pronunciation

UK

    US

      Meanings

      Verb

      1. (slang)to kill or cause someone to die, especially as an online euphemism

      2. (slang)to kill oneself or die by suicide, especially as an online euphemism

      Beyond the definition

      "Unlive" is not a standard everyday verb, but today it is most often used online as a softer or filtered way to say "kill" or "die by suicide." You might see phrases like "unlive himself" or "tried to unlive them." In these cases, the meaning is about causing death or dying, not about some half-living state.

      People often choose this word to avoid blunt wording or to get around content filters on social media platforms. Because of that, it can sound indirect, uneasy, or intentionally softened. There are older or unusual literary uses, but for most modern readers, this is the sense they will recognize first.

      Examples

      1. 1

        Regret

        I wish I could unlive that afternoon.

        • Usage

          rare and literary

      2. 2

        Personal past

        She wanted to unlive the years she spent trying to please everyone.

      3. 3

        Trauma

        Once you've seen that kind of violence, you can't simply unlive it.

      See also

      Similar

      Shades of meaning

      • live down

      Contrast

      Do not confuse

      • unalive

      Used with (collocations)

      • unlive the past
      • unlive one's life
      • unlive past mistakes

      Word family

      • unlived
      • unliving

      Explore

      Forms and spellings

      1 form open this card.

      Main spelling

      • unliveverb