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

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

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

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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“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaying. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of slaying

noun

verb

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