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

The slaying is the first homicide of the year in Central Park, which saw no murders last year. — Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026 In 2023, Gellar brought her monster-slaying skills back to the small screen on the Paramount+ original series Wolf Pack, which was canceled after one season. — Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

Verb

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 The Manson murders spawned at least one copycat slaying in February 1970, The New York Times reported. — Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slaying

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaying

Noun

The boy was booked into Placer County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of murder, Gaines said.

— Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Three men in Mexico received 158-year prison sentences Friday for the murders of Australian surfers Callum and Jake Robinson and their American friend Carter Redd Rhoad.

— Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of murder

Verb

Authorities are investigating what led a 16-year-old shooter to force entry into his former elementary school in Bend, Oregon, and fire into a special needs classroom on Thursday, killing three children and a young teacher.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Over the next seven years, Saudi Arabia carried out waves of airstrikes against the Houthis, often killing civilians.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of killing

Verb

On Monday, Mackenzie was convicted of murdering 190 children and one adult alongside 28 leaders of his cult.

— Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2026
The leader of a Kenyan doomsday cult linked to more than 400 deaths was convicted Monday of murdering 190 children and one adult after ordering followers to starve themselves to death to meet Jesus.

— Evelyne Musambi, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of murdering

Noun

An affidavit prepared by a Fort Worth Police Department homicide detective outlines the circumstances that law enforcement authorities believe support Henton’s arrest for murder, the offense on suspicion of which he was arrested on Friday.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026
Trump is correct that the United States has seen historic plunges in homicide, violent crime, robbery and property crime.

— Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of homicide

Verb

One crab can eat more than 40 juvenile soft-shell clams in a day, while also destroying seagrass habitats.

— Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
And then a seven-hour-long GRB came along—acting like a Death Star whose planet-destroying beam refused to switch off—that defied all explanation.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 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

The next steps include executing on a vendor contract with Site Stream LLC, the city said the contract is currently under final legal review and will be signed soon.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Traditional CPUs excel at sequential computing tasks, such as calculating a massive spreadsheet or running a precise physics simulation, as these often require executing steps in strict order at blazing speeds.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of executing

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slayers

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Style

“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaying. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of slaying

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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