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 cruel cartoon of a constantly shrewish, venal, and disloyal Mary began cementing itself in the public mind when William Herndon, Lincoln’s Springfield law partner, started lecturing about his reminiscences within months of the President’s murder.—
Thomas Mallon,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Last week, the South Carolina Supreme Court delivered an account of how Hill’s conduct during the 2023 double-murder trial crossed ethical and constitutional lines, ultimately unraveling the state’s conviction of Murdaugh.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
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The arrest was made in coordination with the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD), which holds an arrest warrant for charges related to a 1986 homicide in Virginia Beach, Newington police said in a media release.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
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Authorities said the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office later concluded that homicide could not be ruled out in Bravo’s death.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
Noun
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Robinson surrendered to authorities in southern Utah less than two days after the slaying.—
Michael Ruiz , Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
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The brutal slaying has shaken the community as Kayla's family reels from their loss.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
15 May 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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No foul play is suspected, the post says.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 May 2026
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Police spokesman Don Aaron told USA Today that no foul play is suspected in the incident, and an autopsy will be conducted to determine McWilliams' cause and manner of death.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hara-kiri.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hara-kiri. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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