plural slayings
: 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
Peter SteinHe is accused of ordering the 1989 slayings and robberies of three drug dealers …—Joseph P. Fried
Joseph P. FriedExamples of slaying in a Sentence
a man wanted for the slaying of seven people during an armed robbery
Recent Examples on the Web
The killing marks the fifth slaying this year in the Bronx’s 44th Precinct, which saw 16 homicides in all of 2024, NYPD stats show.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
Iran’s embassy in Abu Dhabi has denied Tehran was involved in the rabbi’s slaying, and the UAE has not made the allegation.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2025
Caro Quintero initially fled to Costa Rica, but eventually he was captured and extradited to Mexico, where he, Félix Gallardo and Fonseca Carrillo were all convicted for their roles in Camarena’s slaying.
—Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2025
Other pieces are decorated with cult symbols for the worship of Mithras, who was known for his ritual slaying of a bull.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaying
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.
John Annese, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
Iran’s embassy in Abu Dhabi has denied Tehran was involved in the rabbi’s slaying, and the UAE has not made the allegation.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2025
Caro Quintero initially fled to Costa Rica, but eventually he was captured and extradited to Mexico, where he, Félix Gallardo and Fonseca Carrillo were all convicted for their roles in Camarena’s slaying.
—Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2025
Other pieces are decorated with cult symbols for the worship of Mithras, who was known for his ritual slaying of a bull.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaying
Cite this Entry
“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slaying. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share