as in to head
to cut off the head of
Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded for plotting against Queen Elizabeth
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Recent Examples of behead
Another was almost certainly beheaded; the first vertebra of their spine was cut and there was a big cut mark on their lower jaw.
—
Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
The couple then forced their two younger sons, ages 8 and 9, to view their siblings’ beheaded bodies and remain confined in their bedrooms without food for several days.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
In another city, the mayor was beheaded.
—Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Six, a clever reimagining of what the wives of Henry VIII endured — a couple were beheaded — scores its points in just 80 minutes, with no intermission.
—Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
Judith, who beheads an opposing general in order to save her community.
—Christy Cobb, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
Preparing whole fish usually entails deboning, scaling, gutting, and beheading the sea creature, a task for you—or your fishmonger.
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 12 Jan. 2026
She was dismembered, de-fleshed, and even beheaded before being burned.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
Joyce beheads Vecna while all the characters expel their collective trauma from five seasons of violence and misery.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
The couple then forced their two younger sons, ages 8 and 9, to view their siblings’ beheaded bodies and remain confined in their bedrooms without food for several days.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
In another city, the mayor was beheaded.
—Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Six, a clever reimagining of what the wives of Henry VIII endured — a couple were beheaded — scores its points in just 80 minutes, with no intermission.
—Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
Judith, who beheads an opposing general in order to save her community.
—Christy Cobb, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
Preparing whole fish usually entails deboning, scaling, gutting, and beheading the sea creature, a task for you—or your fishmonger.
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 12 Jan. 2026
She was dismembered, de-fleshed, and even beheaded before being burned.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
Joyce beheads Vecna while all the characters expel their collective trauma from five seasons of violence and misery.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behead
Verb
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As referee Craig Pawson revealed his fate after being sent to the monitor by the VAR, Szoboszlai offered a wry smile, then headed for the tunnel.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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The Tar Heels led 22-11 heading to the second quarter.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At trial, a jury found the parents guilty of stabbing and decapitating the children.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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Alyssa Lira Orange County District Attorney's Office Lira is accused of killing and decapitating Enrique Gonzalez-Carbajal, her boyfriend of two months, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Behead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behead. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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