assassination
noun
as·sas·si·na·tion
ə-ˌsa-sə-ˈnā-shən 
plural assassinations
1
: murder by sudden or secret attack often for political reasons : the act or an instance of assassinating someone (such as a prominent political leader)
the assassination of Abraham Lincoln
an assassination attempt
In medieval days, assassination by poisoning was common enough to alarm many a king, and protection was sought in the form of prayers, food tasters and science.—
The New York Times
The New York Times2
: treacherous destruction of a person's reputation
character assassination
Examples of assassination in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Washington adamantly denied having admitted to assassination.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Continue reading … COURTROOM CLASH — Tyler Robinson's defense team fights to seal evidence in Charlie Kirk's assassination.
—FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
If the assassination made the President a Christlike figure, his forbearance in the face of a wife’s unreasonableness provides him with an extra measure of purity.
—Thomas Mallon, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Fetterman, along with many Republicans and the president himself, demanded the ballroom be built after the assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April.
—Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for assassination
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Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Continue reading … COURTROOM CLASH — Tyler Robinson's defense team fights to seal evidence in Charlie Kirk's assassination.
—FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
If the assassination made the President a Christlike figure, his forbearance in the face of a wife’s unreasonableness provides him with an extra measure of purity.
—Thomas Mallon, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Fetterman, along with many Republicans and the president himself, demanded the ballroom be built after the assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April.
—Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for assassination
Cite this Entry
“Assassination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assassination. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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