SLAY Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

slay

verb

ˈslā

Definition of slay

as in to kill

to deprive of life millions have been slain worldwide by this dreadful disease

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to assassinate

to put to death deliberately vowed to slay without mercy whoever was responsible for murdering his family

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Example 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 As global markets demanded higher performance thresholds, Gaydon answered with the ferocious Aston Martin DBX707, a high-velocity machine with premium luxury credentials plus supercar-slaying straight-line velocity. — New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026 He was slain after a fight with an emotionally disturbed fellow passenger spilled off the rush-hour train onto the platform at the Woodhaven Blvd. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026 With career-defining performances from Jodie Foster and Sir Anthony Hopkins, this movie still absolutely slays 35 years after it was released. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2026 When his friend Richard (Leo Suter) slays Beatrice’s husband as well, the two come up with a scheme to marry the sisters and take over their property. — Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slay

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slay

Verb

Support for the populist had eroded since 16 people were killed in 2024 when a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in Novi Sad.

— JOVANA GEC, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
The military campaign that ensued has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of kill

Verb

Riehle made it to Broadway in 1986 with a role in the Emily Mann drama Execution of Justice, which centered on the trial of Dan White, who assassinated San Francisco mayor George Moscone and city supervisor Harvey Milk in 1978.

— Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2026
Earlier that year, King had been assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.

— Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of assassinate

Verb

Cities outside Paris have been hit hard by the unrest, including Limoges where a fire nearly destroyed the 19th-century city hall.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Animal diseases also threaten our economy and food system, destroying more than 20% of global livestock production each year.

— Robert Kelly, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of destroy

Verb

Peltola, during a candidate forum Friday, became emotional speaking about the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people and said additional law enforcement resources are needed.

— Becky Bohrer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Peltola, during a candidate forum Friday, became emotional speaking about the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous people and said additional law enforcement resources are needed.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of murder

Verb

The high court found that the administration had not demonstrated that the president was authorized to use regular military forces to execute federal laws or that those forces were unable to carry out the mission.

— Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Through it all, each member of the 11-person cast plays an instrument — or two or three or four — while toggling between characters, belting lyrics and executing Chi-San Howard’s enthralling choreography.

— Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of execute

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slavishness

slay

slayer

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“Slay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slay. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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