slaying

noun

slay·​ing ˈslā-iŋ How to pronounce slaying (audio)
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
He is accused of ordering the 1989 slayings and robberies of three drug dealers …Joseph P. Fried

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.
Three people have been arrested and officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety are seeking another person in connection with the slaying of a Hood County father, officials said. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2025 Daquan Pierce, Marcus Mathis, Cordero Miller, Joseph O. Smith and Brian Emory are charged in connection with that slaying, court records show. Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025 Police released photos Wednesday of a man wanted in connection with the slaying of an up-and-coming DJ who was gunned down after a heated argument with a rival Brooklyn dollar van driver. Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025 Walker was 19 at the time of the slaying and was described by prosecutors as a ringleader of the group. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Feb. 2025 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

Dictionary Entries Near slaying

Cite this Entry

“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slaying. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

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