slaying 1 of 2

noun

ˈslā-iŋ How to pronounce slaying (audio)
Definition of slayingnext
as in murder
the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life a man wanted for the slaying of seven people during an armed robbery

Synonyms & Similar Words

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slaying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of slay
1
as in killing
to deprive of life millions have been slain worldwide by this dreadful disease

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in murdering
to put to death deliberately vowed to slay without mercy whoever was responsible for murdering his family

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of slaying
Noun
The slaying is the first homicide of the year in Central Park, which saw no murders last year. — Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026 In 2023, Gellar brought her monster-slaying skills back to the small screen on the Paramount+ original series Wolf Pack, which was canceled after one season. — Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
In a long campaign wielding the sword, converting Venezuela to the dollar would stand as his biggest dragon-slaying victory ever. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026 The Manson murders spawned at least one copycat slaying in February 1970, The New York Times reported. — Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slaying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaying
  1. murder
  2. killing
  3. murdering
  4. homicide
  5. destroying
  6. assassinating
  7. executing
Noun
  • The story revolves around private eye Raymond Gunn (Rockwell), who is drawn into a case involving murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova, voiced by Johansson.
    — Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The best way Ray can think of to do so is to tail her shady husband, Dom (Bobby Cannavale) — all the way into a sordid (but still vaguely family-friendly) web of deceit, murder, blackmail and gangland drama.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of murder
Verb
  • In a small Idaho town, a young mother is accused of killing her young twins.
    — Glenn Thrush Eric Schmitt Liam Stack Tim Balk, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Lack of preparation Eight weeks after the UAE withdrawal, the US and Israel launched a war on Iran, killing supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
    — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of killing
Verb
  • The Lahis case nevertheless established an early precedent for leniency toward an Israeli soldier convicted of murdering Arab civilians.
    — Tamir Sorek, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Caleb Flynn, a pastor who competed on American Idol season 12, has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for murdering his wife, Ashley Flynn, AP News reports.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of murdering
Noun
  • Roughly a dozen agents from Quantico, Virginia, and Philadelphia homicide detectives are processing the home and surrounding the property.
    — Joe Holden, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The police department said the tip was flagged as spam and was never forwarded to homicide investigators.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of homicide
Verb
  • Hurricane Isaias made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane on Saturday, spawning tornadoes, destroying buildings and downing power lines across the Gulf region.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Israeli soldiers filmed themselves in high definition laughing, looting homes, destroying entire rows of buildings, humiliating civilians, even killing them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of destroying
Verb
  • Washington hoped that assassinating Khamenei would prompt a mass antigovernment uprising.
    — Narges Bajoghli, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, will stand trial after a Utah judge ruled Tuesday that prosecutors presented enough evidence to move forward on all seven charges against him.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of assassinating
Verb
  • Try executing no movement and no sound for five minutes — not just what feels like five minutes.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Alexa Plus is still inconsistent at executing more complicated requests.
    — Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of executing

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Cite this Entry

“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaying. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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