variants
also hari-kari
as in suicide
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hara-kiri
He was struck by the show’s exploration of hara-kiri, the Japanese ritual suicide.
—
Ruth La Ferla, New York Times, 18 May 2025
When the soldiers, instead of rising up, jeered at him, Mishima killed himself in the classic samurai fashion: performing hara-kiri, or seppuku (as the Japanese more commonly call it), by plunging a sword into his abdomen before a uniformed disciple sliced his head off.
—Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
The film depicts the historical ‘Honno-ji Incident’ from 1582, when a key vassal of Oda Nobunaga rose in revolt and caused his master to commit hara-kiri in Kyoto.
—Mark Schilling, Variety, 17 Apr. 2023
Ruth La Ferla, New York Times, 18 May 2025
When the soldiers, instead of rising up, jeered at him, Mishima killed himself in the classic samurai fashion: performing hara-kiri, or seppuku (as the Japanese more commonly call it), by plunging a sword into his abdomen before a uniformed disciple sliced his head off.
—Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
The film depicts the historical ‘Honno-ji Incident’ from 1582, when a key vassal of Oda Nobunaga rose in revolt and caused his master to commit hara-kiri in Kyoto.
—Mark Schilling, Variety, 17 Apr. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hara-kiri
Noun
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After being arrested at the end of season two during her wedding for the murder of Cynthia’s (Sabrina Grdevich) husband, Tom, Georgia is now on trial for her life in the show’s third installment.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
7 June 2025
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The manhunt continues for Decker, who has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of kidnapping in the deaths of his daughters Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Noun
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Shortly after Alex’s conviction in March 2023, Smith’s death was officially ruled a homicide.—
Lynsey Eidell,
People.com,
7 June 2025
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The shooting is now being investigated as a homicide.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
7 June 2025
Noun
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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
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Sunday was the fifth anniversary of the slaying, which sparked worldwide protests.—
Shaquille Brewster,
NBC news,
26 May 2025
Noun
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But on Wednesday, a grand jury indicted her on the charge of assisting self-murder/manslaughter, a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.—
Frank Fernandez,
USA TODAY,
24 Feb. 2023
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The initial charge of first-degree murder has been reduced to assisting self-murder/manslaughter.—
Frank Fernandez,
USA TODAY,
24 Feb. 2023
Noun
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Police suspect foul play, but power was eventually restored at the festival, which has an independent power supply ready to go.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
24 May 2025
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The Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Thursday that detectives do not suspect foul play, pending an autopsy.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hara-kiri.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hara-kiri. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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