assassination

noun

as·​sas·​si·​na·​tion ə-ˌsa-sə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce assassination (audio)
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
2
: treacherous destruction of a person's reputation
character assassination

Examples of assassination in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But the accords failed to resolve the Palestinian question, and opposition among some Egyptians would lead to Sadat's assassination in 1981. Susan Page, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025 Xipaia herself is at the front lines of the battle to preserve the Amazon, all while facing multiple assassination attempts, as well as impending motherhood. Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2025 The choice was made to tell a story about Shaka’s rise to leader of the Zulu Kingdom and his eventual assassination, taking in the figures who would define his reign. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2025 Mickelson has been a staunch celebrator of Kirk's life since the conservative activist's assassination in Utah last month. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for assassination

Word History

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of assassination was in 1610

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Assassination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assassination. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on assassination

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!