slay

Synonym Chooser

How is the word slay distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of slay are assassinate, dispatch, execute, kill, and murder. While all these words mean "to deprive of life," slay is a chiefly literary term implying deliberateness and violence but not necessarily motive.

slew thousands of the Philistines

Where would assassinate be a reasonable alternative to slay?

The words assassinate and slay can be used in similar contexts, but assassinate applies to deliberate killing openly or secretly often for political motives.

terrorists assassinated the Senator

In what contexts can dispatch take the place of slay?

Although the words dispatch and slay have much in common, dispatch stresses quickness and directness in putting to death.

dispatched the sentry with one bullet

When can execute be used instead of slay?

The words execute and slay are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, execute stresses putting to death as a legal penalty.

executed by lethal gas

When might kill be a better fit than slay?

The synonyms kill and slay are sometimes interchangeable, but kill merely states the fact of death caused by an agency in any manner.

killed in an accident
frost killed the plants

When is it sensible to use murder instead of slay?

While in some cases nearly identical to slay, murder specifically implies stealth and motive and premeditation and therefore full moral responsibility.

convicted of murdering a rival

Examples Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of slay The projections came as a surprise after the Fed delivered a definitive half-point rate cut in September and messaging that suggested the post-pandemic inflation had been all but slayed. Tobias Burns, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2025 Indianapolis crime 2024:Brothers slain six days apart among this year's unsolved killings Homicides, shootings and more: How violent was Indianapolis this year? Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Dec. 2024 Dracula and Orlok are each slain, though in different ways. Erik Kain, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024 The dragons of the Cold War were slain, and new serpents followed. Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 30 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for slay 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slay
Verb
  • Only after her fiancé was killed, Hart said, did her employer install a lock and door handle.
    Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 24 Jan. 2025
  • But some believe the same elements behind the older Kennedy’s assassination also killed the former senator.
    Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Garfield was assassinated by a disgruntled and delusional office-seeker named Charles Guiteau.
    Mo Rocca, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2025
  • The mountain’s name will revert to Mount McKinley, named for William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, who was assassinated on September 14, 1901.
    Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Beyond was the city of Los Angeles and, in the distance, the shimmering coast, where the Palisades Fire had killed at least ten and destroyed thousands of buildings.
    M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
  • Palestinians who have been sheltering in squalid tent camps and schools-turned-shelters for over a year are eager to return to their homes — even though they have likely been damaged or destroyed.
    Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy, TIME, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Most people know the end of the story of Selena Quintanilla, the pop star who brought Tejano music to the mainstream before she was tragically murdered at the age of 23.
    Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2025
  • Holocaust Memorial Day honors the six million Jewish people who were murdered during the Holocaust.
    Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • There was a tiny cell, its walls painted deep red and carved with graffiti, where prisoners who were to be executed were kept.
    Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
  • The mission went forward, was executed flawlessly, and Walton was returned to safety.
    Daniel Klaidman, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near slay

Cite this Entry

“Slay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slay. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on slay

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!