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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of slain
The targeting of the three journalists comes two days after the killing of the photojournalist/camera operated Hussain Hamood, and nine days following the killing of Al-Manar head of programming Mohammed Sherri, who was slain in an Israeli strike in central Beirut.
—
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 28 Mar. 2026
During the national anthem Friday, the Iranian team honored the memory of the slain children by placing small pink and purple school backpacks in front of them.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
The latest was Ali Larijani, a fixture of Iranian politics and repression, and one of the slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s most unflinching loyalists.
—Jason Rezaian, New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2026
Instead, Smith was slain in a shootout.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026
Demorcy said some bullets and fragments remained in the slain president's body because removing all of them would have taken days and further damaged the remains.
—Tania Francois, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2026
The farewell ceremony for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been postponed, Iran’s state media is reporting.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026
One person was killed and two more wounded in a shooting down the block from the grand opening of a restaurant tied to slain Southern California rapper Nipsey Hussle.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026
In a 10-day battle that followed, most of Hussain’s army, including some of his closest companions and relatives, was slain.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 28 Mar. 2026
During the national anthem Friday, the Iranian team honored the memory of the slain children by placing small pink and purple school backpacks in front of them.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
The latest was Ali Larijani, a fixture of Iranian politics and repression, and one of the slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s most unflinching loyalists.
—Jason Rezaian, New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2026
Instead, Smith was slain in a shootout.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026
Demorcy said some bullets and fragments remained in the slain president's body because removing all of them would have taken days and further damaged the remains.
—Tania Francois, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2026
The farewell ceremony for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been postponed, Iran’s state media is reporting.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026
One person was killed and two more wounded in a shooting down the block from the grand opening of a restaurant tied to slain Southern California rapper Nipsey Hussle.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026
In a 10-day battle that followed, most of Hussain’s army, including some of his closest companions and relatives, was slain.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slain
Verb
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Prosecutors argue that Duckett was a monster in disguise who abused the badge and brutally raped and killed Teresa before dumping her body in a lake.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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Tariq’s father, Azim Khamisa, a businessman, forgave the young man who killed his son and has spent his life working to prevent youth violence.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The pain was particularly acute for worshippers who knew people who had been murdered or kidnapped by Hamas fighters.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Just months before launch, a white police officer murdered George Floyd in the streets of Minneapolis.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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First Baptist Dallas will break ground on its new sanctuary on Sunday, June 7, after a massive fire destroyed the church's 134-year-old sanctuary in the summer of 2024, the church announced on Sunday.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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The diplomat also said that the IDF’s targeting of bridges along Lebanon’s Litani River has destroyed vital infrastructure connecting the south to the rest of the country.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His efforts were greatly aided, Kirkpatrick reports, by the fact that so many of them feared for their lives—after several of their fellow-scientists had been assassinated in Israeli operations.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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While Senesh was hailed as a hero, Kastner was reviled and assassinated by his own countrymen for negotiating with the Nazis.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Also in attendance was Randy Gardner, whose brother was the last person to be executed by firing squad in Utah, in 2010.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
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Investigators also executed a search warrant at the student's residence and seized several electronic devices, according to the sheriff's office.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slain. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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