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
Peter SteinHe is accused of ordering the 1989 slayings and robberies of three drug dealers …—Joseph P. Fried
Joseph P. FriedExamples of slaying in a Sentence
a man wanted for the slaying of seven people during an armed robbery
Recent Examples on the Web
Citywide, murders are down 26%, with 104 slayings so far this year compared to 140 by this time last year.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
California Serial cat killer suspect arrested, potentially linked to a dozen-plus slayings, authorities say
April 23, 2025
Authorities allege that Acosta was also seen by a neighbor grabbing a cat and slamming it over his head April 3.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
The federal government published more than 60,000 pages of records on Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's assassination late Wednesday — the second tranche of documents to be released on the 1968 slaying.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 7 May 2025
Thompson's slaying immediately launched an unseemly wave of support for his killer, days before Mangione was captured in Pennsylvania.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaying
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
California Serial cat killer suspect arrested, potentially linked to a dozen-plus slayings, authorities say
April 23, 2025
Authorities allege that Acosta was also seen by a neighbor grabbing a cat and slamming it over his head April 3.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
The federal government published more than 60,000 pages of records on Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's assassination late Wednesday — the second tranche of documents to be released on the 1968 slaying.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 7 May 2025
Thompson's slaying immediately launched an unseemly wave of support for his killer, days before Mangione was captured in Pennsylvania.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaying
Cite this Entry
“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slaying. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share