assassinate

verb

as·​sas·​si·​nate ə-ˈsa-sə-ˌnāt How to pronounce assassinate (audio)
assassinated; assassinating
Synonyms of assassinate

transitive verb

1
: to murder (a usually prominent person) by sudden or secret attack often for political reasons
a plot to assassinate the governor
2
: to injure or destroy unexpectedly and treacherously
assassinate a man's character
assassinator
ə-ˈsa-sə-ˌnā-tər How to pronounce assassinate (audio)
noun

Synonyms of assassinate

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kill, slay, murder, assassinate, dispatch, execute mean to deprive of life.

kill merely states the fact of death caused by an agency in any manner.

killed in an accident
frost killed the plants

slay is a chiefly literary term implying deliberateness and violence but not necessarily motive.

slew thousands of the Philistines

murder specifically implies stealth and motive and premeditation and therefore full moral responsibility.

convicted of murdering a rival

assassinate applies to deliberate killing openly or secretly often for political motives.

terrorists assassinated the Senator

dispatch stresses quickness and directness in putting to death.

dispatched the sentry with one bullet

execute stresses putting to death as a legal penalty.

executed by lethal gas

Examples of assassinate in a Sentence

They discovered a secret plot to assassinate the governor. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Moczarski, who had once tried to assassinate Stroop, discovered that his cellmate was entirely unrepentant, and willing to discuss his crimes freely. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 27 Aug. 2026 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of attempting to assassinate one of his sons on Monday. — Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Among them is the son of Fred Hampton, a senior leader of the Black Panther Party who was assassinated by the FBI in 1969, at the age of 21. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2026 Congress named the performing arts center as a living memorial to Kennedy in 1964, the year after he was assassinated. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for assassinate

Word History

Etymology

see assassin

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of assassinate was in 1600

Rhymes for assassinate

See All Rhymes for assassinate

Browse Nearby Words

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assassination
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Cite this Entry

“Assassinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assassinate. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

assassinate

verb
as·​sas·​si·​nate ə-ˈsas-ᵊn-ˌāt How to pronounce assassinate (audio)
assassinated; assassinating
: to murder a usually important person by a surprise or secret attack
assassination
ə-ˌsas-ᵊn-ˈā-shən How to pronounce assassinate (audio)
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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