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

Adams, 39, initially was charged with first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the Dec. 6, 2021, slaying of Jose Stanton, a 28-year-old security guard at the Days Inn hotel at North Sixth and West Vine streets. —Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Gargiulo was extradited to Illinois in September 2024, to stand trial on charges of murder in the Glenview teen’s slaying. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025

Lucille Morgan’s pursuit for justice in her son’s slaying continues, the Riverside Police Department said in an Aug. 11 Facebook post. —Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2025

The boyfriend accused of torturing his girlfriend alongside his mother in a horrific Bronx slaying, then evading cops for a week made his first appearance in court. —Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 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