slaying

noun

slay·​ing ˈslā-iŋ How to pronounce slaying (audio)
plural slayings
Synonyms of slayingnext
: the act of killing a person : killing, murder
—used chiefly in journalistic writing
a gangland slaying
Sunday's slayings bring to 14 the number of killings this year in what police call gang-related attacks.—Peter Stein
He is accused of ordering the 1989 slayings and robberies of three drug dealers …—Joseph P. Fried

Synonyms of slaying

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Examples of slaying in a Sentence

a man wanted for the slaying of seven people during an armed robbery
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Now, a detective says the investigation into Wallace’s death helped lead police to the suspect on trial in Las Vegas in Shakur’s slaying. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Local law enforcement Another factor that could have helped eat away at the total number of slayings is more effective prosecution, argues the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026 About 20 friends were still at the barbecue and witnessed the slaying, Kenny said. — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026 Three others in the group — 14, 15 and 16 at the time — implicated Noling in the slayings of the Hartigs during a burglary but later retracted their statements, saying that police pressured them to name Noling as the shooter. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slaying

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slaying was in the 14th century

Rhymes for slaying

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Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slaying. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on slaying

Nglish: Translation of slaying for Spanish Speakers

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