1
as in killed
to deprive of life
millions have been slain worldwide by this dreadful disease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in murdered
to put to death deliberately
vowed to slay without mercy whoever was responsible for murdering his family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 slain
The targeting of the three journalists comes two days after the killing of the photojournalist/camera operated Hussain Hamood, and nine days following the killing of Al-Manar head of programming Mohammed Sherri, who was slain in an Israeli strike in central Beirut.
—
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 28 Mar. 2026
During the national anthem Friday, the Iranian team honored the memory of the slain children by placing small pink and purple school backpacks in front of them.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
The latest was Ali Larijani, a fixture of Iranian politics and repression, and one of the slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s most unflinching loyalists.
—Jason Rezaian, New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2026
Instead, Smith was slain in a shootout.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026
Demorcy said some bullets and fragments remained in the slain president's body because removing all of them would have taken days and further damaged the remains.
—Tania Francois, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2026
The farewell ceremony for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been postponed, Iran’s state media is reporting.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026
One person was killed and two more wounded in a shooting down the block from the grand opening of a restaurant tied to slain Southern California rapper Nipsey Hussle.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026
In a 10-day battle that followed, most of Hussain’s army, including some of his closest companions and relatives, was slain.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 28 Mar. 2026
During the national anthem Friday, the Iranian team honored the memory of the slain children by placing small pink and purple school backpacks in front of them.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
The latest was Ali Larijani, a fixture of Iranian politics and repression, and one of the slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s most unflinching loyalists.
—Jason Rezaian, New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2026
Instead, Smith was slain in a shootout.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026
Demorcy said some bullets and fragments remained in the slain president's body because removing all of them would have taken days and further damaged the remains.
—Tania Francois, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2026
The farewell ceremony for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been postponed, Iran’s state media is reporting.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026
One person was killed and two more wounded in a shooting down the block from the grand opening of a restaurant tied to slain Southern California rapper Nipsey Hussle.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026
In a 10-day battle that followed, most of Hussain’s army, including some of his closest companions and relatives, was slain.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slain
Verb
-
Two dead sharks were found stranded on North Carolina beaches during Spring Break, and researchers aren’t sure what killed them.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The quarter-ton bears, apex predators who are revered by some Native American tribes but also feared for their attacks on livestock and sometimes humans, became locally extinct in California in 1924, the same year that the last California gray wolf was captured and killed.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The vicious murder that followed shook Kansas City to its core and to this day, no one knows for certain who snuck into Leila Welsh’s bedroom and brutally murdered her that morning.—
Patrick Salland,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
-
When Emmett Till was murdered nearby in 1955, Howard helped lead the hunt for witnesses and offered Till’s mother, Mamie, a place to stay during the trial, with armed protection.—
Beverly Gage,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Pratt's home was destroyed in the Palisades Fire.—
Tom Wait,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The outlet said the strikes also destroyed homes and caused widespread damage.—
Sarah Dean,
NBC news,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In September, Charlie Kirk, Turning Point’s founder, had been assassinated by a gunman at Utah Valley University.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Haiti was plunged into crisis in 2021, when mercenaries assassinated President Jovenel Moise.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For something different, Cinkō Asian Latino Grill stands out as a kosher restaurant that brings together Asian and South American flavors in a way that feels both unexpected and well executed.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Authorities later executed multiple search warrants and collected items from the home, including exercise bands, medications, electronic devices, notebooks, clothing and a knife.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slain. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
