ASSASSINATE Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'assassinate' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of assassinate are dispatch , execute , kill , murder , and slay . While all these words mean "to deprive of life," assassinate applies to deliberate killing openly or secretly often for political motives. // terrorists assassinated the Senator

Q: When might 'dispatch' be a better fit than 'assassinate'?

The words dispatch and assassinate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dispatch stresses quickness and directness in putting to death. // dispatched the sentry with one bullet

Q: When can 'execute' be used instead of 'assassinate'?

Although the words execute and assassinate have much in common, execute stresses putting to death as a legal penalty. // executed by lethal gas

Q: When would 'kill' be a good substitute for 'assassinate'?

The meanings of kill and assassinate largely overlap; however, 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 'murder' a more appropriate choice than 'assassinate'?

The synonyms murder and assassinate are sometimes interchangeable, but murder specifically implies stealth and motive and premeditation and therefore full moral responsibility. // convicted of murdering a rival

Q: When could 'slay' be used to replace 'assassinate'?

The words slay and assassinate can be used in similar contexts, but slay is a chiefly literary term implying deliberateness and violence but not necessarily motive. // slew thousands of the Philistines

assassinate

verb

ə-ˈsa-sə-ˌnāt

Definition of assassinate next

as in to murder

to put to death deliberately President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth

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How is the word assassinate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of assassinate are dispatch, execute, kill, murder, and slay. While all these words mean "to deprive of life," assassinate applies to deliberate killing openly or secretly often for political motives.

terrorists assassinated the Senator

When might dispatch be a better fit than assassinate?

The words dispatch and assassinate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dispatch stresses quickness and directness in putting to death.

dispatched the sentry with one bullet

When can execute be used instead of assassinate?

Although the words execute and assassinate have much in common, execute stresses putting to death as a legal penalty.

executed by lethal gas

When would kill be a good substitute for assassinate?

The meanings of kill and assassinate largely overlap; however, kill merely states the fact of death caused by an agency in any manner.

killed in an accident

frost killed the plants

When is murder a more appropriate choice than assassinate?

The synonyms murder and assassinate are sometimes interchangeable, but murder specifically implies stealth and motive and premeditation and therefore full moral responsibility.

convicted of murdering a rival

When could slay be used to replace assassinate?

The words slay and assassinate can be used in similar contexts, but slay is a chiefly literary term implying deliberateness and violence but not necessarily motive.

slew thousands of the Philistines

Examples 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 assassinate Haniyeh was assassinated in the Iranian capital of Tehran in late July in an operation largely attributed to Israel. —

Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024 Park Chung-hee was assassinated in 1979 and replaced by President Choi Kyu-hah, who was then swiftly ousted by military dictator Chun Doo-hwan. —

Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Dec. 2024 At the height of Washington’s most recent maximum-pressure campaign—and just days after Israel assassinated Iran’s leading nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh—Iran’s parliament passed a law directing the government to rapidly advance its nuclear program and reduce international monitoring. —

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Affairs, 2 Dec. 2024 The militant group, which was credited for helping save the Assad regime from Syrian rebels, is now significantly weakened, with most of its leaders assassinated. —

Mostafa Salem, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for assassinate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for assassinate

Verb

Bundy confessed to raping and murdering 30 women before his execution in 1989, although law enforcement officials believe the number is much higher.

Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 15 Dec. 2024
Written and directed by Nolan, Memento stars Pearce as Leonard, a man struggling with short-term memory loss while trying to track down the man who raped and murdered his wife.

Glenn Garner, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2024

Definition of murder

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“Assassinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assassinate. Accessed 28 Dec. 2024.

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Last Updated: 28 Dec 2024 - Updated example sentences

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Synonyms of assassinate

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