as in massacre
the killing of a large number of people
all civilized nations should protest this senseless slaughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to massacre
to kill on a large scale
modern poultry farms slaughter a vast number of chickens every day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slaughter
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
The Kohbergers’ pride in Bryan was shattered by the revelation that he was suspected of and later admitted to the slaughter.
—Theresa Braine, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
That premonition rings true when his parents (Tara Buckman, Geoff Hansen) are slaughtered by a carjacker dressed as Old Saint Nick himself (Charles Dierkop) just hours later, condemning the toddler into further moral compass trauma at an orphanage run by a domineering Mother Superior nun from Hell.
—Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaughter
Noun
Raw and vulnerable, Coon reveals that Agnes has been starving for penance, ready to offer herself up for slaughter.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
The Kohbergers’ pride in Bryan was shattered by the revelation that he was suspected of and later admitted to the slaughter.
—Theresa Braine, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
In September, at least 89 Christians were reportedly slaughtered by jihadists at a funeral and in surrounding fields.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
That premonition rings true when his parents (Tara Buckman, Geoff Hansen) are slaughtered by a carjacker dressed as Old Saint Nick himself (Charles Dierkop) just hours later, condemning the toddler into further moral compass trauma at an orphanage run by a domineering Mother Superior nun from Hell.
—Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaughter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaughter
Noun
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In a shocking piece of reporting, Cora Engelbrecht speaks to five Iranians who were present at the massacre and—with the help of video evidence and illustrations by Matt Huynh—shares their stories.—
Ian Crouch,
New Yorker,
29 Jan. 2026
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What the massacre destroyed, a century of disinvestment calcified.—
Caleb Gayle,
The Atlantic,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Thirty-seven years after her death, Robert Atrops was found guilty of murdering Debe Atrops.—
Sarah Prior,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
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Justin Mesael Novoa, 21, was charged with making threatening interstate communications, including threats to assault or murder a federal law enforcement officer, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slaughter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaughter. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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