assassination
noun
as·sas·si·na·tion
ə-ˌsa-sə-ˈnā-shən 
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
The New York Times2
: treacherous destruction of a person's reputation
character assassination
Examples of assassination in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Suzanne Swierc Ball State University agreed to pay $225,000 to its former health director, Suzanne Swierc, after she was fired for making a critical social media post following Kirk's assassination, according to reporting from IndyStar, part of the USA TODAY Network.
—Drew Pittock, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Released in 1980, in the wake of Harvey Milk’s assassination, and as gay men were being murdered in the streets, Friedkin’s film felt like a betrayal.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 2 June 2026
In the early 1900s, after the assassination of William McKinley, the Secret Service was tasked with presidential protection and two men were assigned to a full-time detail for Theodore Roosevelt.
—Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
In 2003, the chief minister the state home to Hyderabad, one of the cities driving the new IT boom – narrowly escaped assassination.
—Dhruv Tikekar, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for assassination
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Drew Pittock, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Released in 1980, in the wake of Harvey Milk’s assassination, and as gay men were being murdered in the streets, Friedkin’s film felt like a betrayal.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 2 June 2026
In the early 1900s, after the assassination of William McKinley, the Secret Service was tasked with presidential protection and two men were assigned to a full-time detail for Theodore Roosevelt.
—Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
In 2003, the chief minister the state home to Hyderabad, one of the cities driving the new IT boom – narrowly escaped assassination.
—Dhruv Tikekar, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for assassination
Cite this Entry
“Assassination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assassination. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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