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 men accused of drugging and killing an American Airlines flight attendant during a layover in Colombia have been arrested months after the slaying, authorities said, with the suspects allegedly tied to a gang known to prey on tourists. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026 The Jalisco New Generation Cartel was behind the mayor’s slaying, authorities say. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026

Verb

In that case, authorities believe the mother was responsible for slaying the family and then killing herself. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026 Kim — who faces murder charges in a 2016 killing in San Jose and a 2018 slaying in Westminster — was flown into Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday, booked into the Anaheim city jail, turned over to the San Jose Police Department and then transported to Santa Clara County. — Sean Emery, Oc Register, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for slaying

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaying

Noun

Karmelo Anthony, now 19, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison after a Collin County jury in June rejected his claims of self-defense during a confrontation with Austin Metcalf in the stadium bleachers last year.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is once again seeking to overturn his state murder conviction in the 2020 killing of George Floyd, according to court documents filed Tuesday.

— Riley Moser, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of murder

Verb

Ukraine launched hundreds of drones across Russia Sunday, killing at least six people in one of Kyiv’s largest aerial attacks of the war.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Thompson’s killing outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel ignited a multistate manhunt that ended five days later, when police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, arrested Mangione in a McDonald’s.

— Kara Scannell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of killing

Verb

After the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Murdaugh’s conviction for murdering his wife and son earlier this year -- citing jury tampering by the court clerk in the case -- Judge Debra McCaslin scheduled his retrial for April 5, 2027.

— Janice McDonald, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
He is separately charged in New York state court with murdering Thompson and other counts.

— Dan Mangan, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of murdering

Verb

The show was filmed across Northern Ireland, and the weather proved to be brutal, with the rain constantly destroying sets that had to be rebuilt.

— Matt Minton, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
The Ukrainian defenders repelled the attack and posted video footage of their kamikaze drone strikes destroying at least seven T-72B3A tanks, including some that carried the Arena-M system, according to Euromaidan Press.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of destroying

Verb

Utah prosecutors are turning up the heat on Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, arguing that the evidence against him easily meets the standard required to send the case to trial.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026
Ferrell instead starred as the villainous mogul Jacobim Mugatu, who attempts to brainwash Derek into assassinating the prime minister of Malaysia.

— Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026

Definition of assassinating

Verb

America’s power grid is executing a quiet, high-tech transformation.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2026
The Bills — sporting their new-look, attack-style 3-4 defense — attempted to stay as vanilla as possible while executing their core defensive philosophies.

— Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of executing

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slayers

slaying

slayings

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Style

“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaying. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of slaying

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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