as in murder
the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life
a man wanted for the slaying of seven people during an armed robbery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in killing
to deprive of life
millions have been slain worldwide by this dreadful disease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in murdering
to put to death deliberately
vowed to slay without mercy whoever was responsible for murdering his family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of slaying
Kc Baker, People.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Such statements shift the focus away from Zarutska and her family and seem to make excuses for her brutal slaying.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 11 Sep. 2025
Christian Allaire, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2025
Mangione is accused of slaying UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson late last year.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaying
Noun
The slaying came to authorities’ attention on March 9, 2021, when hikers at Cuyahoga Valley National Park came upon a dead body in the woods.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Such statements shift the focus away from Zarutska and her family and seem to make excuses for her brutal slaying.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
Just a few weeks ago, Chloë Sevigny was busy slaying the Venice Film Festival red carpet in extremely-cool Simone Rocha and Saint Laurent looks.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2025
Mangione is accused of slaying UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson late last year.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaying
Noun
-
Three people were killed in a murder-suicide shooting near a middle school in Illinois on Tuesday.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
McDonald, portrayed as the main attacker, was convicted of murder, but later released because of health issues.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Europe experienced its most extensive flooding since 2013, Hurricane Helene brought catastrophic floods to parts of the US, killing at least 230 people, and extensive flooding in West and Central Africa led to around 1,500 deaths.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Eight-year-old Retal was severely injured when her home in Gaza City's al Zeitoun neighborhood was hit by shelling on July 5, 2025, killing her brother Karam, 12, and sister Judy, 10.—
Sarah Ferguson,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) blasted open border policies after a four-time deportee was convicted of murdering a Tacoma auto dealer.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Mangione is accused of murdering Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, as Thompson arrived at a hotel in midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024, after traveling from Minnesota.—
Joshua Rhett Miller
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The girls died as a result of homicide from suffocation, a preliminary report from a medical examiner stated.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
-
An autopsy determined the girls' cause of death to be suffocation and the manner of death is homicide, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office said on June 9.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The show revolves around three Texas Hill Country ranching family dynasties locked in a contest for control of the land, and their lives and legacies are threatened by outside forces intent on destroying their way of life.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The allocation changes regularly, but as of June 2025, according to Business Insider, destroying a tank was worth eight points.—
Tamar Jacoby,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Federal investigators say Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old man suspected of assassinating Kirk, has been linked to the crime through a DNA match and note.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Mug shots of Tyler Robinson, who has been accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, are seen on a television screen.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Consequently, the unit’s members film themselves torturing and executing Palestinians.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
What may be novel is executing these partnerships with the freedom and flexibility of a start-up.—
Fiona Sinclair Scott,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaying. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share