Synonyms for slaying

Most common

killing · murder · execution · slaughter

All synonyms

Noun

Definitions

1. n. 1

   Killing, especially the murder of a human.

   The slaying of the civil rights activist brought a storm of protest.

Forms

Plural

slayings → killings, murders, slaughters, executions…

Example sentences

• killing The bus fell off the cliff, killing all 10 aboard.
• murder You don't have an alibi for the day of the murder.
• execution Is execution by lethal injection unconstitutional?
• slaughter The slaughter of the prisoners was a barbarous act.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

6 letters

murder²

7 letters

killing²

9 letters

execution⁴, slaughter²

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (murder² = 2 syllables).