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.
This week’s must reads Inside the mysterious slaying of a Hollywood pimp with Russian mob tattoos: Allan Roshanski and Ruslan Magomedgadzhiev were gunned down in Lomita in 2020. Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025 Law enforcement authorities allege he is connected to the slaying of Juan Jesus Guerrero-Chapa, the former personal attorney for a cartel leader. Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Feb. 2025 She was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and served 13 years in prison in connection with the slaying. Christian Martinez, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025 The initial actions by both Trump and Biden were attempts to impose police reform in the wake of seismic news events, beginning with the May 2020 slaying of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Tom Jackman and Elizabeth Dwoskin The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 23 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

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Cite this Entry

“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slaying. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

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