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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Their target: a U.S. fugitive linked to multiple murders.—
Aya Al-Hakim,
People.com,
13 July 2025
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Ten Broward Sheriff’s deputies and sergeants who were entangled in the shocking and chaotic triple murder in Tamarac earlier this year have been recommended for termination, the union representing the sheriff’s office announced.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
13 July 2025
Noun
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The Staten Island resident is facing manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, among other charges.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
12 July 2025
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He has not been charged federally with homicide or aggravated assault.—
Raphael Romero Ruiz,
AZCentral.com,
12 July 2025
Noun
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The suspect called 911 to report the victims' death, then later turned herself in as a suspect in the double slaying, police said.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
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Ruben Perez, 46, was taken into custody in the Midway District shortly after 10 a.m. on suspicion of murder in the slaying of Jason Poindexter, 46, according to the San Diego Police Department.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 July 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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Jeremiah Kelly, 18, was found dead on April 22 inside his on-campus residence and the Hamilton County Coroner's Office did not find evidence of injury or foul play when its staff performed an autopsy, officials said in an April 28 news release.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
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When asked by Dateline in a follow up email whether authorities believe Jonathan may have been kidnapped, O’Keefe reiterated that there is no evidence of foul play in the case.—
Nicolás Viñuela,
NBC news,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hara-kiri.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hara-kiri. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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