slain

verb

Definition of slainnext
past participle of slay
1
as in killed
to deprive of life millions have been slain worldwide by this dreadful disease

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in murdered
to put to death deliberately vowed to slay without mercy whoever was responsible for murdering his family

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 slain An affidavit for Yolanda Marodi’s arrest describes Ring security video captured outside the couple’s home in Ramona, California — about 45 miles northeast of San Diego — on the day that the firefighter was slain. — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026 His buddy Batista was slain by Leon Prater (Peter Dinklage), but there’s no doubt Quinn will suspect Dexter played a role in it. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 July 2026 Lizzie Borden’s father and stepmother were found slain by 29 (or 30) whacks in Fall River, Massachusetts. — USA Today, 21 July 2026 The Battle of Karbala marked a pivotal moment for this faction when Ḥusayn, a son of ʿAlī and grandson of Muhammad, mounted a challenge to Yazīd but was defeated and slain in the battle. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for slain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slain
  1. killed
  2. murdered
  3. destroyed
  4. assassinated
  5. executed
Verb
  • From Minnesota and Indiana to California and Florida, people across the nation who killed others while speeding are now facing charges that carry life sentences.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Two people were killed, along with the suspect, and five were injured in a Minnesota shooting.
    — Josh Feldman, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of killed
Verb
  • Lorca was murdered in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War by followers of Francisco Franco, and his body remains undiscovered to this day.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Ideologies held by Kirk and others like him, Miles said, are the reason Black people have been violently murdered.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of murdered
Verb
  • The fire started in the 2300 block of Pickett Road and destroyed five structures, according to Cal Fire.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Almost 50 homes and other structures have been destroyed so far; there have been several injuries, and one of Tibbetts’s neighbors lost 20 German shepherds.
    — Anya Kamenetz, Curbed, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of destroyed
Verb
  • After Kirk was assassinated, the Congressional Black Caucus put out a statement condemning political violence.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The judge also cited retaliation against people who were critical of Charlie Kirk after the Turning Point USA co-founder was assassinated last September.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of assassinated
Verb
  • According to the United Nations, executions have surged over the last six months, with at least 56 people executed on national security charges since mid-March — including 27 linked to protests earlier this year.
    — Greg Myre, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Code executed during that interruption altered the prediction machinery before the processor could use it.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of executed

Browse Nearby Words

slags
slain
slake
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Cite this Entry

“Slain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slain. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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