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.
Although police did not disclose a potential motive, Martínez Mayen said the family believes the slaying was over money. Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024 Gull ruled the defense team had not shown enough of a connection between other potential suspects and the slayings. Zoe Sottile, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024 The defendant was Jackie Wilson, whose infamous case was critical to unveiling systemic practices of torture within the Chicago Police Department, and he was being tried for a third time for murder in the slayings of Chicago police Officers William Fahey and Richard O’Brien. Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2024 However, prosecutors at the time said the two brothers’ motive was greed and cited their lavish spending spree after the slayings. Christine Pelisek, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024 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 24 Nov. 2024.

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