1
: the act of killing
specifically
: the butchering of livestock for market
2
: killing of great numbers of human beings (as in battle or a massacre) : carnage
slaughtered; slaughtering; slaughters
1
: to kill (animals) for food : butcher
3
: to discredit, defeat, or demolish completely
Examples of slaughter in a Sentence
Noun
the slaughter of innocent people
all civilized nations should protest this senseless slaughter
Verb
Our team got slaughtered yesterday.
modern poultry farms slaughter a vast number of chickens every day
Recent Examples on the Web
Fintan O’Toole, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Although lynchings have steadily increased in number and barbarity during the last twenty years, there has been no single effort put forth by the many moral and philanthropic forces of the country to put a stop to this wholesale slaughter.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 21 Feb. 2025
Tom Mullen, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
As a result of the spread, infected birds have been selectively slaughtered across the country, sometimes millions of birds at a single location.
—Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaughter
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Noun
The site of the slaughter in the novel is called Camp Patience.
—Fintan O’Toole, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Although lynchings have steadily increased in number and barbarity during the last twenty years, there has been no single effort put forth by the many moral and philanthropic forces of the country to put a stop to this wholesale slaughter.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
The Minervois is a sunny land of black truffles, red marble, oak and juniper forests and castles constructed by Cathars (pescatarian Christians who disdained the symbol of the cross, were branded as heretics and subsequently slaughtered wholesale by Papal decree in the 13th century).
—Tom Mullen, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
As a result of the spread, infected birds have been selectively slaughtered across the country, sometimes millions of birds at a single location.
—Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slaughter
Cite this Entry
“Slaughter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slaughter. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
slaughter
1 of 2 noun
slaugh·ter
ˈslȯt-ər 
1
: the act of killing
especially
: the butchering of livestock for market
2
: destruction of human lives in large numbers (as in war or a massacre)
slaughter
2 of 2 verbLove words? Need even more definitions?
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