guillotine

verb

Definition of guillotinenext
as in to head
to cut off the head of French Revolutionary forces captured and guillotined countless aristocrats in the chaotic period following the downfall of the monarchy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for guillotine
  1. head
  2. behead
  3. decapitate
Verb
  • The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying sunscreen about 15 minutes before heading outdoors and choosing one that is broad-spectrum, water-resistant and has an SPF of at least 30.
    — Kaitlyn Harvey, AJC.com, 17 July 2026
  • Simply point your phone’s camera at nearby buildings or landmarks, and the app overlays arrows and other visual cues to show you exactly which way to head.
    — Larry Magid, Mercury News, 16 July 2026
Definition of head
Verb
  • Marx has repeatedly claimed that he was forced to behead a cat and wear it on his head at the age of 3 and shoot and kill a man at the age of 7 by his abusive stepfather.
    — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026
  • When the decision on trans athletes was made the other day by the Supreme Court were the Justices swarmed by an angry mob and beheaded on the spot?
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of behead
Verb
  • Given Jones’ flair for the dramatic, this week’s upcoming finale should deliver even more attention-grabbing moments, even after the last episode ended with the main characters getting decapitated.
    — Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 13 July 2026
  • That video showed the same cat being decapitated by Martel, according to prosecutors.
    — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026
Definition of decapitate
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.

Browse Nearby Words

guilelessness
guillotine
guillotined
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Guillotine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guillotine. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on guillotine

Nglish: Translation of guillotine for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about guillotine

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