slay

verb

\ ˈslā

slew\ ˈslü

\ also especially in sense 2 slayed; slain\ ˈslān

\; slaying; slays

Definition of slay

1 transitive : to kill violently, wantonly, or in great numbers slay the enemy This was the appearance of a dreadful epidemic which in that age, and long before and afterward, was wont to slay its hundreds and thousands on both sides of the Atlantic.— Nathaniel Hawthorne broadly : to strike down : kill slay a dragon "It's a lot easier to slay a vampire with a stake in the heart than it is to slay some of our demons that are in our heads." — Rachel T. Hill

2 transitive informal : to delight or amuse immensely slayed the audience … [Seth Rogen] is currently slaying critics with Superbad, which he co-wrote with Evan Goldberg.— Tanner Stransky

3 transitive + intransitive informal : to do something or perform exceptionally well or impressively : to be exceptionally impressive From the Let Girls Learn initiative to her Vogue covers, [Yara Shahidi] slays it all.— Rebecca Sun Beyoncé did not come to this year'sGrammyAwardsjusttoslay,shecametomakeastatement.— JackieFields Fromtheredcarpettohersure-to-beepicperformance,onethingisforcertain—she's gonna slay.— Quinn Keaney

Other Words from slay Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about slay

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms & Antonyms for slay

Synonyms

carry off, claim, croak [slang], destroy, dispatch, do in, fell, kill, take

Antonyms

animate

Choose the Right Synonym for slay

kill, slay, murder, assassinate, dispatch, execute mean to deprive of life. kill merely states the fact of death caused by an agency in any manner. killed in an accident frost killed the plants slay is a chiefly literary term implying deliberateness and violence but not necessarily motive. slew thousands of the Philistines murder specifically implies stealth and motive and premeditation and therefore full moral responsibility. convicted of murdering a rival assassinate applies to deliberate killing openly or secretly often for political motives. terrorists assassinated the Senator dispatch stresses quickness and directness in putting to death. dispatched the sentry with one bullet execute stresses putting to death as a legal penalty. executed by lethal gas

Examples of slay in a Sentence

The knight slew the dragon. millions have been slain worldwide by this dreadful disease

Recent Examples on the Web

Needless to say, we couldn't be more pumped for the premiere and can't wait to see Williams and Turner slay their last season. — Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, "Game of Thrones Stars Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner Look So Different on the Cover of Rolling Stone," 27 Mar. 2019 Fortunately, her brother, Frankie Grande slayed the orange carpet in her place. — Yerin Kim, Seventeen, "Here's Why Ariana Grande Isn't At the 2019 Kids' Choice Awards," 24 Mar. 2019 Regardless, Hyland is slaying the shag game and hitting us with some serious spring hair inspiration. — Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, "Sarah Hyland Just Debuted a New Shag Haircut, and She’s Almost Unrecognizable," 20 Mar. 2019 After a vicious fight, Jamie (of course) slays him and brings his body to the Indians. — Outlander Fan, Marie Claire, "5 Biggest Takeaways From 'Outlander' Season 4 Episode 4," 26 Nov. 2018 To say Porter slayed in the ensemble is an understatement. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Billy Porter Slays in a Christian Siriano Tuxedo Dress on the Oscars Red Carpet," 24 Feb. 2019 With the exception, of course, of Timmy absolutely slaying every red carpet. — Cady Drell, Marie Claire, "This Week in Timothée Chalamet, February 22 Edition," 22 Feb. 2019 After planting the trees, students remained by the site to offer words on behalf of the 17 community members who were slain. — Beatrice Dupuy, Teen Vogue, "28 Parkland Students Traveled to New Zealand to Attend a Summit on Youth Activism," 10 Aug. 2018 In 1964, civil rights workers Michael H. Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James E. Chaney were slain in Philadelphia, Miss.; their bodies were found in an earthen dam six weeks later. — BostonGlobe.com, "This day in history," 20 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'slay.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.