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. Fried
Examples of slaying in a Sentence
a man wanted for the slaying of seven people during an armed robbery
Recent Examples on the Web
This list is preliminary, and the number of homicides can change as authorities investigate each case, determining whether the slaying was criminal, justified, accidental or suicide.
—Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 3 June 2024
Under the terms of the agreement, Anthony would remain in prison, but Nathaniel would be eligible for parole in 20 years if both confessed to all of their rapes and slayings.
—Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 9 June 2024
Deputies did not share any suspect information or a motive for the slaying.
—Sacramento Bee, 9 June 2024
Coleman, 43, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of murdering U.S. nationals on foreign soil for the 2021 slayings of his 2-year-old son, Kaleo, and 10-month-old daughter, Roxy.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for slaying 
Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 3 June 2024
Under the terms of the agreement, Anthony would remain in prison, but Nathaniel would be eligible for parole in 20 years if both confessed to all of their rapes and slayings.
—Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 9 June 2024
Deputies did not share any suspect information or a motive for the slaying.
—Sacramento Bee, 9 June 2024
Coleman, 43, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of murdering U.S. nationals on foreign soil for the 2021 slayings of his 2-year-old son, Kaleo, and 10-month-old daughter, Roxy.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for slaying
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slaying.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slaying. Accessed 16 Jun. 2024.
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