slaying

noun

slay·​ing ˈslā-iŋ 

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

He is accused of ordering the 1989 slayings and robberies of three drug dealers …

—Joseph P. Fried

Synonyms

• murder
• homicide
• killing

Examples of slaying in a Sentence

a man wanted for the slaying of seven people during an armed robbery

Recent Examples on the Web

Hogan was married twice, but was single at the time of her slaying, per the Stevens Point Journal. —Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025

But while the New Zealander won a Golden Globe for her portrayal in 2009, Paquin broke out long before Sookie was slinging drinks and slaying bloodsuckers. —Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2025

Joshua Rocha has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the July 2022 slaying of North Kansas City police officer Daniel Vasquez. —Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025

After the slaying of the Snake, developer Sucker Punch Productions gives players the freedom to explore the land on their own. —Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for slaying

• baying
• braying
• faying
• flaying
• fraying
• graying
• greying
• haying
• laying
• neighing
• paying
• playing