he kills for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he kills for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is described as committing murder for a specific reason or motive. Example: "In the dark underworld of crime, he kills for money and power."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

He kills for food.

The New Yorker

Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport, or lust or greed.

The New York Times

Consumed by how people react to death, while he kills for contract, he also uses each job to conduct what are essentially field studies.

The Economist

For one thing, forget the repartee: Delilah wordlessly resists Samson's wordless advances (and seems unimpressed with the kangaroo he kills for food).

The New York Times

Like his father, he kills for a living, but he sees it differently, and the hard realities of class differences are only partially obscured by the gunsmoke and the derring-do.

The Guardian - Books

After he kills for the first time – a Satanically inverted coming-of-age moment – Agu reflects on what death smells like: "Sweet like sugar cane; rotten like palm wine".

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

His murder bore a grim familiarity in a country with a brutal legacy of politically motivated killings, and it raised a troubling question: Was he killed for trying to organize workers?

The New York Times

Ordway wrote down something (often the animals he killed) for each of the 863 days of the trip.

The Economist

But he offers another explanation, too, one that is as bleak as it is banal: he killed for cars and clothes.

The New Yorker

He said that he "killed for honor" and has "no regrets," because "girls are meant to stay at home".

Huffington Post

He kills kids for their souls.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "he kills for", ensure the motivation is explicitly stated or heavily implied within the context. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "he kills for" without specifying a clear motive. Saying "he kills for reasons" is vague and weakens the impact of the statement. Always provide context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he kills for" functions as a verb phrase, where "kills" is the main verb and "for" introduces the reason or motivation behind the act. Ludwig indicates that this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he kills for" is a grammatically sound and relatively uncommon expression used to convey the motivation behind a killing. As Ludwig confirms, the expression is correct. It's primarily found in news and media contexts, where clarity and factual reporting are paramount. When using this phrase, it's crucial to provide explicit context regarding the reasons for the killing to avoid vagueness. While semantically related phrases exist, such as "he murders because of", their nuances may alter the overall impact of the statement. Therefore, mindful and deliberate usage is recommended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he murders because of

Emphasizes the causal relationship between his actions and a specific reason.

he slays to

Uses a more archaic term for killing, implying a specific objective.

he takes lives motivated by

A more descriptive and less direct way of expressing the same concept.

he assassinates in order to

Suggests a premeditated and politically motivated killing.

he destroys for

Focuses on the destructive aspect of killing, emphasizing its ultimate aim.

he executes for the sake of

Implies a formal or judicial killing done for a particular cause.

he eliminates driven by

Focuses on the driving force behind the act of killing.

he terminates due to

A more clinical and detached way of describing the act of killing.

he extinguishes for

Uses a metaphorical term, suggesting the end of someone's existence as the goal.

he sacrifices to

Suggests a killing done as an offering or for a higher purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "he kills for" in a sentence?

You can use "he kills for" to describe someone's motivations for murder, such as "He kills for money" or "He kills for revenge".

What are some alternatives to "he kills for"?

Some alternatives include "he murders because of", "he slays to", or "he assassinates in order to", each carrying slightly different connotations.

Is it grammatically correct to say "he kills for"?

Yes, "he kills for" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard subject-verb-preposition structure in English.

What is the difference between "he kills for" and "he murders for"?

While both phrases are similar, "he murders for" might imply a higher degree of premeditation or malice, whereas "he kills for" is a more general statement about the reason behind the act.