guillotine

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
Verb
  • At sunset its Amina Muaddi slingbacks, when honeymooners head to the bar to make the most of the martini shots while a could-be-a-model DJ plays cool and breezy beats in a midriff-bearing top.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
  • The vehicle was heading east on Ninth Avenue at the time, police added.
    City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • Four Haitian women who were deported from the United States in February were found beheaded and dumped in a river several months later, lawyers said in court documents.
    Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Here’s another, similarly beheaded, on Seventh Avenue near 30th Street.
    Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • After decapitating the body, Kennedy tied the head to the top of the family's minivan with a bungee cord, making for a less-than-pleasant five-hour drive back home to Mount Kisco, New York, according to her recollection.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 26 May 2026
  • Vahidi’s rise to become one of Iran’s top decision-makers shows that US and Israeli efforts to decapitate the country’s leadership have not produced a more moderate ruling echelon.
    Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 23 May 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Guillotine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guillotine. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.

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