SLAYING Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

slaying 1 of 2

noun

ˈslā-iŋ

Definition of slaying

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

as in killing

to deprive of life millions have been slain worldwide by this dreadful disease

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Two others involved in the slaying received lesser sentences — one who was 17 at the time and another who testified on behalf of the state as part of a plea deal. — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 At that hearing, prosecutors noted that Nunnally was suspected of a third slaying, but noted he hadn’t been charged with that case at the time. — William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026

Verb

Jose’s siblings are reeling from the shock slaying so close to home. — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for slaying

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaying

Noun

Burks personally prosecuted five capital murder death penalty cases during her time at the district attorney’s office.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
The murder of two Israeli soldiers in the West Bank is the jumping-off point for a large-scale invasion of the Palestinian territory, a move that would further test the nation’s fraying relationship with the United States.

— Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of murder

Verb

Earlier this week, missiles fired by the Houthis struck a residential area in Taiz, killing two teenage girls and renewing attention on the dangers faced by civilians.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Russia's aerial attacks hit 12 regions of Ukraine overnight, killing at least four people and wounding scores of others, including five children, Zelenskyy said on social media Thursday.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of killing

Verb

Morley received a lifetime prison sentence for murdering Cody Birchfield, his former coworker, in 2022.

— News Editor, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
Wade connected with the CODIS administrator in Florida, who was able to track down a vial of blood collected from Bundy following his 1978 arrest in the state after murdering two sorority sisters and a 12-year-old girl.

— Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of murdering

Noun

In it, the Ford campaigned noted high opioid overdose deaths, firearm homicides, and child poverty in the district, among other issues.

— Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
Sheriff’s homicide detectives and crime scene investigators were investigating the man’s death while in law enforcement custody.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of homicide

Verb

This is the one thing that can stop the agents from destroying us.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
Cyberattacks against supermarket refrigeration systems have disrupted grocery operations across Europe, with hackers remotely manipulating temperature controls and destroying perishable food.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 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

Dakar winner Brock Heger quickly showed us all how to do it, perfectly executing the side-by-side equivalent of a skateboard tailslide along the wall’s highest point.

— Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 2 Nov. 2026
That didn’t stop the Commanders from being one of the worst teams in the league at executing through the first six weeks of the season.

— Tashan Reed, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of executing

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Style

“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaying. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of slaying

noun

verb

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