1
as in killed
to deprive of life
millions have been slain worldwide by this dreadful disease
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in murdered
to put to death deliberately
vowed to slay without mercy whoever was responsible for murdering his family
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of slain
Iran is preparing a July funeral for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
—
Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
At the time Chhabria made his finding in 2024, Ervin had been awaiting execution in the November 1986 killing of Carlene McDonald, who was slain in an alleged murder-for-hire plot believed by prosecutors to be masterminded by the woman’s ex-husband.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Brown, a biologist who worked for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, filed a lawsuit after she was fired just days after Kirk was slain.
—Drew Pittock, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Marshall is also the mother of Cook’s slain brother, Chauncy Marshall, 31, who was killed in a shooting at a Springfield nightclub in 2017, according to media reports.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 29 May 2026
Their hateful and inflammatory remarks about slain CEO Brian Thompson sparked a debate over how city press passes are granted.
—Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 24 May 2026
Bartholomew, 38, was slain in a shooting inside Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital on April 25 that also seriously injured a second officer, Nelson Crespo.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Wadded and stacked $1 bills, some of it in plastic bags, were found in the sedan in which Homan, who was 24, was slain.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2026
The rest of the killings were all planned, the victims slain inside the family’s home, most in the basement, when the rest of the family was not home, Heuermann said.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 23 Apr. 2026
Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
At the time Chhabria made his finding in 2024, Ervin had been awaiting execution in the November 1986 killing of Carlene McDonald, who was slain in an alleged murder-for-hire plot believed by prosecutors to be masterminded by the woman’s ex-husband.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Brown, a biologist who worked for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, filed a lawsuit after she was fired just days after Kirk was slain.
—Drew Pittock, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Marshall is also the mother of Cook’s slain brother, Chauncy Marshall, 31, who was killed in a shooting at a Springfield nightclub in 2017, according to media reports.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 29 May 2026
Their hateful and inflammatory remarks about slain CEO Brian Thompson sparked a debate over how city press passes are granted.
—Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 24 May 2026
Bartholomew, 38, was slain in a shooting inside Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital on April 25 that also seriously injured a second officer, Nelson Crespo.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Wadded and stacked $1 bills, some of it in plastic bags, were found in the sedan in which Homan, who was 24, was slain.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2026
The rest of the killings were all planned, the victims slain inside the family’s home, most in the basement, when the rest of the family was not home, Heuermann said.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slain
Verb
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All 12 people on board, including 11 skydivers and a pilot, were killed in the incident, authorities said.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
-
Air Force officials did not immediately identify the eight people killed or explain why there were more people aboard than the bomber’s standard crew complement.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Conlon also launched Recovered Voices, an initiative to revive operas by composers who had been murdered or driven into exile during the Nazi era.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
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And in 1960, fearing Congo and its vast resources moving out of the West’s sphere of influence, Eisenhower ordered Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba murdered.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
Verb
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The crash sparked a fire that destroyed the aircraft, which was operating as a skydiving flight, according to the NTSB.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
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The fire burned more than 60 acres and destroyed several structures, including homes, according to CBS Los Angeles.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
In 1901, McKinley was tragically assassinated while still in office.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
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Medgar was assassinated on June 12, 1963, in the driveway of their home by Byron De La Beckwith.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Then there is the strategy, executed without the million-dollar budget that comes with studio backing.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
17 June 2026
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Investigators executed a search warrant at the headquarters of the conspiracy in Baltimore and seized more than 8,000 packs of untaxed cigarettes and hundreds of counterfeit Maryland tax stamps.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slain. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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