variants
also hari-kari
as in suicide
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Recent Examples of hara-kiri
He was struck by the show’s exploration of hara-kiri, the Japanese ritual suicide.
—
Ruth La Ferla, New York Times, 18 May 2025
When the soldiers, instead of rising up, jeered at him, Mishima killed himself in the classic samurai fashion: performing hara-kiri, or seppuku (as the Japanese more commonly call it), by plunging a sword into his abdomen before a uniformed disciple sliced his head off.
—Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
The film depicts the historical ‘Honno-ji Incident’ from 1582, when a key vassal of Oda Nobunaga rose in revolt and caused his master to commit hara-kiri in Kyoto.
—Mark Schilling, Variety, 17 Apr. 2023
Ruth La Ferla, New York Times, 18 May 2025
When the soldiers, instead of rising up, jeered at him, Mishima killed himself in the classic samurai fashion: performing hara-kiri, or seppuku (as the Japanese more commonly call it), by plunging a sword into his abdomen before a uniformed disciple sliced his head off.
—Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
The film depicts the historical ‘Honno-ji Incident’ from 1582, when a key vassal of Oda Nobunaga rose in revolt and caused his master to commit hara-kiri in Kyoto.
—Mark Schilling, Variety, 17 Apr. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hara-kiri
Noun
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The number of killings investigated last year fell to 67, with 57 of those categorized as murders — excluding cases such as justifiable homicides — a total not seen since 1967, according to data compiled by this news organization.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Jackson, who famously won an acquittal in the murder trial of Karen Read and represented disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein, did not explain his decision to withdraw from the case.—
Matt Gutman,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact KCPD homicide unit detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.—
Kendrick Calfee
Updated January 9,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
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More information about homicides is available from The Sun’s homicides database.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The series has a particular focus on the why more than on the how of the slaying at its center, as well as the impact Katie's murder has on the entire town, from the police officers investigating the case to Jamie's sister to Katie's best friend.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
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In a two-day trial last month, a jury concluded that Mullen is mentally competent to be tried in the slaying.—
Cameron Macdonald,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The initial charge of first-degree murder has been reduced to assisting self-murder/manslaughter.—
Frank Fernandez,
USA TODAY,
24 Feb. 2023
Noun
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Police said there is currently no foul play suspected, and the investigation remains ongoing.—
Ciara McCarthy
January 5,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Jan. 2026
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Police said there is currently no foul play suspected.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hara-kiri.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hara-kiri. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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