fratricide

noun

Definition of fratricidenext
as in patricide
the crime of purposefully ending the life of your own brother or sister

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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 fratricide Here, Hamlet is a melancholy suburban prince named Juicy, in a Black family rocked by betrayal and fratricide and ghosts who pop out of backyard grills. — Chris Richards, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2023 The problem with the plan was fratricide, among other wanton cellular murders. — Jason Mast, STAT, 31 Aug. 2023 The Type-1a supernovae don’t come from solitary stars sitting around waiting to die, but from a case of pure stellar fratricide. — Popular Mechanics, 18 Apr. 2023 Rumors of Njinga committing fratricide or engaging in cannibalism are treated with similar caution. — Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for fratricide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fratricide
  1. patricide
  2. parricide
  3. matricide
  4. regicide
  5. murder
  6. filicide
  7. homicide
Noun
  • The opera is known for its modernist music, performed by one of the largest orchestras in operatic repertoire, which uses dramatically harsh harmonies to embody its themes of grief, revenge and patricide.
    — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 12 May 2026
  • Walt had long described himself as a benevolent father to his workers, and the strike seemed an act of personal betrayal and disloyalty verging on patricide.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of patricide
Noun
  • The Avici hell is the lowest and most terrible level of the eight hot hells of Buddhism, where those who’ve committed serious crimes (like parricide) must face constant suffering.
    — Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
  • This is what's known as a parricide, where somebody kills their parents.
    — Lori A Bashian , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Definition of parricide
Noun
  • In the case of Tom Brandis, played by the singular Mark Ruffalo, a tragedy (matricide) has devastated his family unit.
    — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 2 June 2026
  • At the center of the installation is the myth of Orestes, which hinges on the justification of matricide.
    — Eana Kim, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Definition of matricide
Noun
  • They were rewarded for their regicide when Thatcher’s successor, John Major, unexpectedly won the following election in 1992.
    — Ian King, CNBC, 24 June 2026
  • Unlike the Conservative Party, however, Labour does not have a history of regicide; the party has never mounted an official challenge against a sitting prime minister.
    — Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 11 May 2026
Definition of regicide
Noun
  • The sheriff's office said ballistic testing performed with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives later produced forensic evidence linking the two murders.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
  • Nearly three years after Ebony Duncan vanished after leaving work in Independence, a Jackson County jury has found her former boyfriend guilty of second-degree murder.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
Definition of murder
Noun
  • Each year in the United States there are nearly 500 arrests for filicide – which is the legal term for when parents kill their children – according to an analysis of FBI data by Forensic Science International.
    — Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
  • More rare are filicides of the sort Elkins allegedly committed.
    — Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of filicide
Noun
  • Fort Worth Police Department homicide detectives on Monday arrested Alonzo Reyes, 18, and Gerald Chamberlain, 17, on suspicion of murder in the alleged ruse.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
  • In 2022, by contrast, there had been almost twice as many homicides by the midpoint of the year, with 50 people killed in Denver by July 1, including 14 children.
    — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 20 July 2026
Definition of homicide

Browse Nearby Words

fraternizing
fratricide
fratricides
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Cite this Entry

“Fratricide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fratricide. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fratricide

Nglish: Translation of fratricide for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fratricide

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