hara-kiri

variants also hari-kari
Definition of hara-kirinext

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 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 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
  • Diaz, 52, suffered burns to her arm and stomach while trying to incinerate the car and was soon charged with Lopez’s murder, according to a court transcript and a criminal complaint.
    James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • His son, Nick Reiner, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his parents.
    Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • Police in Georgia recovered some of Warren's property and other items relevant to the homicide investigation a few days later, discarded behind a Cracker Barrel restaurant, according to prosecutors.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • Nocturne tells the story of Jonah Lynn (Schreiber), an ex-soldier turned homicide detective who, tired of working the tough streets of Philadelphia, moves to a small town in Western Pennsylvania for a quiet life.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • One person was dead and another hospitalized after a shooting Friday morning in Bay Point, according to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, and authorities are searching for a suspect in the slaying.
    Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
  • Polish prosecutors have not attributed the slaying to Moscow and Poland's Internal Security Agency did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • She is charged with first-degree murder and assisting self-murder, which in Florida is treated like a manslaughter offense.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
  • She has been charged with first-degree murder and assisting self-murder, a second-degree felony in Florida punishable by a maximum of 15 years in prison.
    Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • The contact had prompted the video assistant referee (VAR) to recommend an on-field review and eventually Balogun was issued a red card for serious foul play and automatically suspended for one game.
    Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 2 July 2026
  • He was dismissed for ‘serious foul play’, which deals with players who endanger the safety of an opponent.
    Tom Bogert, New York Times, 2 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hara-kiri.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hara-kiri. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on hara-kiri

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster