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
Verb
  • Then head to the sixth-floor rooftop for cocktails, snacks, and sweeping views of Manhattan, Jamaica Bay, and the Atlantic.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026
  • For people heading into the backcountry, the Forest Service recommends using bear-resistant food containers and storing food away from campsites.
    — Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of head
Verb
  • The next morning, the officers’ bodies are found, beheaded, lying in pools of their own blood.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Women and girls in all corners of this world are accustomed to, and even expect, danger, including the priestess of Athena (Zendaya) whom Odysseus’ men behead during their sack of Troy.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 July 2026
Definition of behead
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 27 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on guillotine

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about guillotine

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