slayings

noun

plural of slaying
as in murders
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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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slayings
  1. murders
  2. homicides
  3. killings
Noun
  • Having said that, this is not the story of the Gilgo Beach murders.
    — Rodney K. Harrison, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026
  • Almost 22 years ago, Scott Peterson was convicted of the murders of his wife Laci and their unborn son.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 18 July 2026
Definition of murders
Noun
  • Other notable statistics from CMPD’s midyear data include a 3% increase in homicides, with 40 so far this year, which is up from 39 over the same time period last year.
    — Zaire Breedlove, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026
  • When homicides dropped 30% and shootings by 35% in 2025, everyone from the FBI boss to the governor would answer questions about what's going on.
    — Chris Tye, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Definition of homicides
Noun
  • The Johnson County District Court sentenced Robinson to death for the killings of two women and to life in prison in Kansas for the killing of a third.
    — Alexa Newsom, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026
  • Myung Jin Kim, 31, was wanted in connection with two killings, including a botched murder-for-hire plot in San Jose in 2016 and the killing of Kim’s friend in the parking lot of a CVS in Westminster two years later.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Definition of killings
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Slayings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slayings. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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