plural slayings
: the act of killing a person : killing, murder
—used chiefly in journalistic writing
a gangland slaying
Sunday's slayings bring to 14 the number of killings this year in what police call gang-related attacks.—
Peter Stein
Peter SteinHe is accused of ordering the 1989 slayings and robberies of three drug dealers …—Joseph P. Fried
Joseph P. FriedExamples of slaying in a Sentence
a man wanted for the slaying of seven people during an armed robbery
Recent Examples on the Web
The shooting comes as the NYPD marked a 28% drop in murders citywide, from 75 slayings in the first three months of 2025 to 54 so far this year.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
The slaying stemmed from an ongoing gang dispute, police said at the time of Hamilton’s arrest.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
After freeing a man who was convicted in a pizza delivery driver’s slaying, the state’s Parole Board has rejected releasing an accomplice who fatally stabbed the food courier.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Corder's slaying was the sixth line-of-duty death of a Milwaukee police officer since 2018.
—Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for slaying
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Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
The slaying stemmed from an ongoing gang dispute, police said at the time of Hamilton’s arrest.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
After freeing a man who was convicted in a pizza delivery driver’s slaying, the state’s Parole Board has rejected releasing an accomplice who fatally stabbed the food courier.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Corder's slaying was the sixth line-of-duty death of a Milwaukee police officer since 2018.
—Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for slaying
Cite this Entry
“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slaying. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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