as in massacre
the killing of a large number of people
all civilized nations should protest this senseless slaughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to massacre
to kill on a large scale
modern poultry farms slaughter a vast number of chickens every day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slaughter
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
The Kohbergers’ pride in Bryan was shattered by the revelation that he was suspected of and later admitted to the slaughter.
—Theresa Braine, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
In September, at least 89 Christians were reportedly slaughtered by jihadists at a funeral and in surrounding fields.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaughter
Noun
Raw and vulnerable, Coon reveals that Agnes has been starving for penance, ready to offer herself up for slaughter.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
The Kohbergers’ pride in Bryan was shattered by the revelation that he was suspected of and later admitted to the slaughter.
—Theresa Braine, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
She was convicted and fined five times in French courts of inciting racial hatred, in incidents inspired by her opposition to the Muslim practice of slaughtering sheep during annual religious holidays.
—CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
In September, at least 89 Christians were reportedly slaughtered by jihadists at a funeral and in surrounding fields.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaughter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaughter
Noun
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In a shocking piece of reporting, Cora Engelbrecht speaks to five Iranians who were present at the massacre and—with the help of video evidence and illustrations by Matt Huynh—shares their stories.—
Ian Crouch,
New Yorker,
29 Jan. 2026
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What the massacre destroyed, a century of disinvestment calcified.—
Caleb Gayle,
The Atlantic,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And later in September, after the conservative activist Charlie Kirk was murdered in Utah, the account began posting a stream of writings about the importance of free speech and support for Kirk’s widow, Erika.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
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People tried to murder him, incarcerate him, slander him.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slaughter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaughter. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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