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
PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
Trial in Sonya Massey shooting An Illinois sheriff's deputy goes on trial today for the 2024 slaying of Sonya Massey.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
That anger was repeatedly cast beyond Tyler Robinson, the Utah man charged with slaying Kirk whose name went unsaid throughout the day’s services.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaying
Noun
Each of the three games in this collection feature bloody action that'll keep you entertained with demon and monster slaying for hours.
—PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
Trial in Sonya Massey shooting An Illinois sheriff's deputy goes on trial today for the 2024 slaying of Sonya Massey.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
The forces of the lords put down the revolt by slaying somewhere between seventy thousand and a hundred thousand peasants.
—Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
That anger was repeatedly cast beyond Tyler Robinson, the Utah man charged with slaying Kirk whose name went unsaid throughout the day’s services.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaying
Noun
-
And then, in the context of being accused for murder, everything was just highlighted.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The film tells the story of Christy Martin, a pioneering American boxer, who survived a murder attempt by her trainer-spouse.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Gerard Damiano was a smart guy, a hairdresser from the Bronx who directed Deep Throat and the follow-up, Devil in Miss Jones, which were killing it at the box office, high up on Variety’s Top 50 list of the highestgrossing films.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The storm was the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year, killing at least 114 people, with many more reported missing — most in Cebu province, a tourist hotspot.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Johnson, Evans and Pascal – and while certainly thoughtful, the film's strengths are upended by a mood-murdering melancholy.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
In the worst killing spree in Germany’s post-war history, a former nurse was jailed in 2019 for life for murdering 85 of his patients.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The man's identity has not been released, and authorities declined to comment on the homicide investigation that led to his warrant.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Pacheco-Meza was charged with reckless homicide and driving under the influence, while Morales-Martinez was charged with drug possession and a weapons offense.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
And candidates who stoked fear in voters — with the threat of towering multi-family complexes destroying their communities or costly local infrastructure projects driving up taxes — lost by clear margins.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Derek Lopez, 27, was fired from his role at the university after he was caught on camera destroying a Turning Point display.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on a Utah college campus a month ago today, has asked a judge for permission to wear civilian clothes in court and to appear without shackles and cuffs.—
Michael Ruiz , Lee Ross,
FOXNews.com,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Casual killings at point-blank range, vicious motorcycle jackings, tossing someone off a building, assassinating the actual Mark Cuban (playing himself) — this, in the movie, is what the good guys do.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Currently, there is no information available regarding the size of area burned or the crew executing the prescribed fire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The brokers who win are the ones who keep believing, keep executing, and never let the pressure change their approach.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaying. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share