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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slaying
Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
The slaying of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last fall spurred numerous lawsuits that could reshape the legal boundaries governing public employee speech.
—Marissa Payne, Des Moines Register, 4 Feb. 2026
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
The serpent-slaying formula likely traces back to an old Indo-European myth.
—Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaying
Noun
The slaying dramatized the perils faced by journalists in Mexico, where scores have been slain in recent years.
—Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
The slaying of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last fall spurred numerous lawsuits that could reshape the legal boundaries governing public employee speech.
—Marissa Payne, Des Moines Register, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
Reeves is currently on Broadway with his Bill & Ted co-star Alex Winter, slaying in Waiting for Godot at the Hudson Theatre.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
The serpent-slaying formula likely traces back to an old Indo-European myth.
—Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaying
Noun
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Colt Gray, now 16, has been indicted on 55 felony counts, including four counts of malice murder, according to court documents.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
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Now, as a reporter, Camille returns to her hometown to cover an unsolved murder while staying in her childhood home.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Also on Tuesday, Indivisible CT is conducting an anti-ICE rally on the state Capitol lawn, taking political aim at a federal agency that has fallen sharply out of public favor after killing two American citizens in Minnesota and roughing up scores of others.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
17 Feb. 2026
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The ex-husband of former First Lady Jill Biden, who has been accused of killing his wife late last year, pleaded not guilty in the case during a virtual court appearance on Tuesday.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Revuckas is also charged with murdering Morales's unborn child and is due back in court on Wednesday.—
Marissa Sulek,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The family of a Broward man is seeking justice after two teens were arrested in Texas on Thursday after being accused of murdering him.—
Ted Scouten,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Chatham County Police Department is investigating the crash and has charged Vasquez Lopez with reckless driving, driving without a valid license, failure to obey a traffic control device, and first-degree homicide by vehicle, the agency shared online.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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The Hanover Police Department has placed Thomas Hayes, 36, on leave, as the officer faces charges of motor vehicle homicide and leaving the scene of an accident following personal injury or death.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The firestorm ravaged Pacific Palisades and Altadena, killing 31, destroying more than 16,000 structures and contaminating others with toxins and heavy metals.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Special prosecutors indict Kim Keon Hee and former Prime Minister Han on charges of abetting Yoon’s imposition of martial law, falsifying and destroying official documents and lying under oath.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Harry Jacobs, who was recently named head of the office's criminal division, was also involved in the prosecution of Vance Boelter, the man accused of assassinating former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
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Days later, Trump, much to the surprise of even his own advisers, responded by assassinating Iran’s top military commander, Qassem Soleimani, in Iraq.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors detain former Defense Minister Kim over his role in planning and executing the declaration of martial law.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
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While executing the search warrant on Sunday, deputies found a man dead inside the home, the Sheriff’s Office said on Monday.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaying. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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