as in to head
to cut off the head of
Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded for plotting against Queen Elizabeth
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Recent Examples of behead
The real-life Cromwell was beheaded in 1540 on orders from Henry VIII.
—
Sean Piccoli, Deadline, 5 Apr. 2025
Jane, who may have been as young as 16, is shown blindfolded as an executioner with an axe waits to behead her.
—Pan Pylas, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
There, inside the building that had until then been considered a sanctuary, they were first tied up, and then all 70 were beheaded, the groups say.
—Paul Tilsley, Fox News, 22 Feb. 2025
An Islamist group linked to Islamic State called the AFD are feared to have beheaded the victims with machetes.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025
Members of Daesh, a terror organization, beheaded the 21 men on the beach and then posted the photographs in Dabiq, its propaganda magazine.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2025
On February 8, Mary was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle.
—Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Feb. 2025
On February 8, 1587, the executioner’s ax struck three times, beheading Mary, Queen of Scots.
—Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Feb. 2025
If caught, he would be burned or beheaded.
—Elisa Gonzalez, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Sean Piccoli, Deadline, 5 Apr. 2025
Jane, who may have been as young as 16, is shown blindfolded as an executioner with an axe waits to behead her.
—Pan Pylas, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
There, inside the building that had until then been considered a sanctuary, they were first tied up, and then all 70 were beheaded, the groups say.
—Paul Tilsley, Fox News, 22 Feb. 2025
An Islamist group linked to Islamic State called the AFD are feared to have beheaded the victims with machetes.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025
Members of Daesh, a terror organization, beheaded the 21 men on the beach and then posted the photographs in Dabiq, its propaganda magazine.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2025
On February 8, Mary was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle.
—Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Feb. 2025
On February 8, 1587, the executioner’s ax struck three times, beheading Mary, Queen of Scots.
—Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Feb. 2025
If caught, he would be burned or beheaded.
—Elisa Gonzalez, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Behead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behead. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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