as in massacre
the killing of a large number of people
all civilized nations should protest this senseless slaughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to massacre
to kill on a large scale
modern poultry farms slaughter a vast number of chickens every day
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 slaughter
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
20 June 2026
For example, a meatpacker forced to pay higher prices for slaughter-ready cattle may see its profit margins squeezed.
—
Bruce Blythe,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
17 June 2026
Laura Secor,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
The Islamic Republic slaughtered tens of thousands of Iranians earlier this year without compunction and remains in power despite military intervention by America and Israel.
—
Joobin Bekhrad,
Time,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for slaughter
Noun
The primary area of contention between Ukraine and Poland is the Volhynian Genocide of 1943-1945, when, independent of the Nazis, the UPA carried out the mass slaughter of Poles in what is now western Ukraine.
—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
20 June 2026
For example, a meatpacker forced to pay higher prices for slaughter-ready cattle may see its profit margins squeezed.
—
Bruce Blythe,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
17 June 2026
Verb
The Islamic Republic has slaughtered demonstrators at random before.
—
Laura Secor,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
The Islamic Republic slaughtered tens of thousands of Iranians earlier this year without compunction and remains in power despite military intervention by America and Israel.
—
Joobin Bekhrad,
Time,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for slaughter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaughter
Noun
-
Investigators said interviews with Sayer after his arrest indicated he was influenced by the Columbine High School massacre in 1999 that left 13 dead.
-
Sacramento County prosecutors have placed Martin and Payton at the center of the massacre, a shootout at 10th and K streets that prosecutors say was fueled by gang rivalry, score-settling, anger and bravado, with deadly consequences.
Verb
-
The couple is accused of conspiring to murder Agarwal in an attempt to continue their romance.
-
Nothing about intent—intent pertains to murder in its several degrees.
Cite this Entry
“Slaughter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaughter. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
