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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Francisco Javier Sanchez-Juarez, 28, and Jeffrey Josue Diaz, 24, are charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in connection to the incident.—
Racquel Bazos,
Baltimore Sun,
1 July 2025
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Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives, who took over the case from Florida City police, booked Fisher into Metro West Detention Center on a second-degree murder charge.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2025
Noun
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Anyone with information can contact state police’s homicide unit at 443-233-0989.—
Racquel Bazos,
Baltimore Sun,
1 July 2025
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After news of the homicides spread nationally, Johnson and Alandt left town to ensure their own safety.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
1 July 2025
Noun
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Also killed in the June 26, 1994 slayings: Sharon Anderson and Marie Rogers, both 25-year-old women who were guests in Sucharski’s home.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2025
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The manhunt for Travis Decker, a 32-year-old U.S. Army veteran wanted in connection with the brutal slayings of his daughters, who were found dead earlier this month, entered just over two weeks on Tuesday, June 17.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
18 June 2025
Noun
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But on Wednesday, a grand jury indicted her on the charge of assisting self-murder/manslaughter, a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.—
Frank Fernandez,
USA TODAY,
24 Feb. 2023
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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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Given the circumstances, foul play is not suspected in his death, police said.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2025
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The Pinal County Medical Examiner will determine the hiker's cause of death, but foul play is not suspected, AZ Family reported.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hara-kiri.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hara-kiri. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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