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.
Officials said Soriano fled to Puerto Rico after the slayings and then traveled by boat to the Dominican Republic. Nicole Acosta, People.com, 5 June 2025 Sunday was the fifth anniversary of the slaying, which sparked worldwide protests. Shaquille Brewster, NBC news, 26 May 2025 Jacob Lucas Derrick of North Little Rock was charged with capital murder for Jones' slaying and with committing a terroristic act for firing on the car the Bauxite teenager had been driving just before he was fatally shot. John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 23 May 2025 Tuesday’s slayings spurred a rash of theories about what was behind the attack. Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 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 10 Jun. 2025.

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