slay

Synonym Chooser

How is the word slay distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of slay are assassinate, dispatch, execute, kill, and murder. While all these words mean "to deprive of life," slay is a chiefly literary term implying deliberateness and violence but not necessarily motive.

slew thousands of the Philistines

Where would assassinate be a reasonable alternative to slay?

The words assassinate and slay can be used in similar contexts, but assassinate applies to deliberate killing openly or secretly often for political motives.

terrorists assassinated the Senator

In what contexts can dispatch take the place of slay?

Although the words dispatch and slay have much in common, dispatch stresses quickness and directness in putting to death.

dispatched the sentry with one bullet

When can execute be used instead of slay?

The words execute and slay are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, execute stresses putting to death as a legal penalty.

executed by lethal gas

When might kill be a better fit than slay?

The synonyms kill and slay are sometimes interchangeable, but kill merely states the fact of death caused by an agency in any manner.

killed in an accident
frost killed the plants

When is it sensible to use murder instead of slay?

While in some cases nearly identical to slay, murder specifically implies stealth and motive and premeditation and therefore full moral responsibility.

convicted of murdering a rival

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of slay The memorial will feature a who’s who of US leaders and conservative pundits paying tribute to the slain activist, who was a close ally of the president. Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025 Ole Miss had better watch out for Tulane Tulane has already slain two power conference teams in Duke and Northwestern. Sam Sklar, Mississippi Clarion Ledger, 18 Sep. 2025 Moviegoers yearn for demons to be slayed. Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025 Hosted by drag superstars Dusty Ray Bottoms and May O’Nays, this cabaret-meets-musical-theatre spectacular brings together local legends, touring talent, and rising youth performers for an unforgettable staging of sequins, show tunes, and slaying. Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slay
Verb
  • At least three people were killed in Zaporizhzhia, the president said.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2025
  • The statistics tellingly include the death toll in the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995, a white supremacist plot that killed 168 people.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Cancellations come after recent assassinations in US The cancellation comes after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University's campus earlier this month.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Christopher Furlong/Getty Charlie Kirk Truss paid an emotional tribute to Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point USA co-founder and close Trump ally who was assassinated at Utah Valley University on September 10.
    James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In a poignant touch, the seating within is made of wood sourced from ancient cedar trees, which previously grew near a Japanese temple destroyed by the earthquake.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025
  • His death destroyed the agent’s two-year path to take down the Invernizzi family.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 21 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Season 2 will pick up following the Season 1 finale in which Gibbs (Austin Stowell) manages to escape arrest for killing the man who murdered his wife and children.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Carr argued Kimmel misled viewers about the political affiliation of Tyler Robinson, the suspect charged with murdering Kirk.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • He was eventually executed for his actions.
    Christopher Tremoglie, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Trump has long criticized Biden's use of the autopen, a routine method of executing official documents when signatories are unable to sign them.
    Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slay. Accessed 26 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on slay

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!