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
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
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
Trevon Williams, 21, is accused in Saturday’s slaying outside an Airbnb on Gardena Avenue that left the teen dead and her child hospitalized in critical condition.
—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2026
ABC News,
26 May 2026
The two children the fugitive father spirited away to Mexico after Bravo’s slaying nearly two years ago are safe in Sacramento County with their maternal grandmother, said Sacramento and federal authorities at a news conference Tuesday in downtown Sacramento.
—
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for slaying
Noun
The slaying has people in the retirement community on edge.
—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
Trevon Williams, 21, is accused in Saturday’s slaying outside an Airbnb on Gardena Avenue that left the teen dead and her child hospitalized in critical condition.
—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2026
Verb
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion was created in response to two gunmen allegedly inspired by the Islamic State group slaying 15 people at a Sydney Hanukkah celebration in December.
—
ABC News,
26 May 2026
The two children the fugitive father spirited away to Mexico after Bravo’s slaying nearly two years ago are safe in Sacramento County with their maternal grandmother, said Sacramento and federal authorities at a news conference Tuesday in downtown Sacramento.
—
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for slaying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaying
Noun
-
Prosecutors allege the pistol was used in a 2021 Chicago murder and later in the shooting of a rival gang member.
-
Liar, marking a reunion between Seo Hyun-jin and Yoo Yeon-seok as a criminal profiler and a corporate attorney on opposing sides of a murder case tied to a powerful conglomerate, also continues through the month.
Verb
-
In January 2024, Mansfield confessed to killing 18-year-old Carol Ann Barrett more than four decades earlier.
-
He is accused of killing a man on March 13, 2022, Broward court records show.
Verb
-
The ruling handed down on Tuesday affirmed the judgment of a May 2025 hearing presided over by Cuyahoga County judge Nancy Margaret Russo, the same judge who found Shirilla guilty of murdering her boyfriend, Dominic Russo (no relation) and their friend, Davion Flanagan, in a 2022 car crash.
-
Sam Worthington leads the series as David Burroughs, a father serving a life sentence for murdering his own son five years ago.
Noun
-
Investigators said Edmond purchased the firearm in Georgia just 36 days before it was allegedly used in the homicide.
-
Quigley has pleaded not guilty to motor vehicle homicide in the December 2023 Woburn crash that fatally injured 37‑year‑old Special Olympian Angelo Schettino, who died a month later.
Verb
-
Mexican fruit flies are one of the world’s most destructive pests when laying their eggs, destroying or damaging fruit such as apples, grapefruits, avocados, peaches and pears, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
-
But Blue Origin suffered a major setback in May when one of its New Glenn rockets abruptly exploded on the launchpad, destroying vital infrastructure that will take months to rebuild.
Verb
-
Since the start of the war in 2022, Ukrainian military intelligence has claimed responsibility for assassinating several senior Russian officers, some of whom have appeared on a public list of Ukraine’s enemies.
-
Yes, assassinating their leaders might have played into that.
Verb
-
The other question mark is whether Red Bull kept him out too long before executing his final pit stop.
-
Employees spend less time executing tasks and more time directing work, applying judgment and providing oversight.
Cite this Entry
“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaying. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
