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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

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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
Another man, Vincent Muscat, pleaded guilty in 2021 for his role in the slaying, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 Charges were unsealed last week against one shooter in a deadly Gary gas station slaying, records show. — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
An Oregon man was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for a November 1981 Griffith cold case slaying. — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2026 In that case, authorities believe the mother was responsible for slaying the family and then killing herself. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 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 judge presiding over the case of Jorge Barahona, charged with the brutal murder of his daughter, said Barahona must be prepared to go to trial — or to reach a plea deal.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Clancy was charged with three counts of murder for the 2023 deaths of her three children in Massachusetts.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of murder
Verb
  • Investigators determined that Hollander had likely targeted the home with the intention of killing Esther.
    — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The jury could not reach a verdict in the murder trial of the Massachusetts mother who admitted to killing her three children.
    — Violet Jira, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of killing
Verb
  • Rhys plays Nile Jarvis, the menacing and manipulative real estate scion suspected of murdering his first wife.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • As interviewees list justifications for murdering civilians, including children, the camera’s gaze eventually falls on the IDF’s own military headquarters.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of murdering
Noun
  • Detectives in Santa Barbara County have reopened an unsolved homicide from 1988, hoping new focus on the cold case could help unearth new leads in the investigation.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Police found the vehicle on the Flock camera system near the homicide scene right after Massey-Brice was shot and again as the driver drove away, according to the warrant.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of homicide
Verb
  • Sonil Jain, Co-founder of Sowtex and ReMaterial, noted that for a fabric exporter trading with Russia, Brazil, or the UAE, there were many possible benefits, including cheaper, faster B2B settlements without dollar-clearing fees destroying margins.
    — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Some put the chance of AI destroying everyone, everywhere, all at once at around 50%.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of destroying
Verb
  • 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
  • Ferrell instead starred as the villainous mogul Jacobim Mugatu, who attempts to brainwash Derek into assassinating the prime minister of Malaysia.
    — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
Definition of assassinating
Verb
  • Her expertise lies in creating and executing marketing campaigns and events for Sacramento’s Latino community.
    — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Mohammed confessed to planning and executing the attacks while imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay.
    — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 10 Sep. 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 16 Sep. 2026.

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