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
  • The judge presiding over the case of Jorge Barahona, charged with the brutal murder of his daughter, said Barahona must be prepared to go to trial — or to reach a plea deal.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Clancy was charged with three counts of murder for the 2023 deaths of her three children in Massachusetts.
    Andy Rose, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Detectives in Santa Barbara County have reopened an unsolved homicide from 1988, hoping new focus on the cold case could help unearth new leads in the investigation.
    Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Police found the vehicle on the Flock camera system near the homicide scene right after Massey-Brice was shot and again as the driver drove away, according to the warrant.
    Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Prosecutors accused him of being the mastermind of the slaying and having ordered and paid for it.
    Kevin Schembri Orland, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Another man, Vincent Muscat, pleaded guilty in 2021 for his role in the slaying, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 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 sheriff's office has not said whether foul play is suspected.
    Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Officials have yet to comment on the exact cause of death, but said there are no indications of any foul play.
    Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 9 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hara-kiri.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hara-kiri. Accessed 17 Sep. 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