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

He was arrested 33 hours after the slaying, when authorities said his father persuaded him to turn himself in. —Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025

Prosecutors have argued that the brothers’ motive was greed and cited their lavish spending spree after the slayings. —Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025

After Kirk’s slaying, workers learn the limits of free speech. —Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 15 Sep. 2025

Panthers fire employee over social media post The Carolina Panthers' communications coordinator was reportedly fired for Instagram posts apparently referencing Kirk's slaying. —Julia Gomez, USA Today, 13 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