slaughter 1 of 2

noun

ˈslȯ-tər How to pronounce slaughter (audio)
Definition of slaughternext
as in massacre
the killing of a large number of people all civilized nations should protest this senseless slaughter

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slaughter

2 of 2

verb

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
Noun
Or an announcement that wildlife officials are planning a statewide slaughter of black bears. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026 Reynolds also described unsanitary conditions due to the slaughter area being outdoors with dirt and gravel. — Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Verb
What remains of the trade are 25,000 American horses, gathered up by kill buyers and hauled to slaughter plants across our northern and southern borders. — Wayne Pacelle, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 This was painting a bright red bullseye on the hog that was soon to be slaughtered. — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slaughter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaughter
  1. massacre
  2. murder
Noun
  • Once the ruthless commander of Bosnian Serb forces, Mladic oversaw the siege of Sarajevo, mass killings and the 1995 Srebrenica massacre that left more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys dead.
    — Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Ratko Mladić, the Bosnian-Serb general who orchestrated the Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo during the Balkan wars, has died in prison aged 84.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of massacre
Verb
  • The singer is accused of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
    — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The vast majority of the 6 million Jews murdered spoke Yiddish.
    — Ilan Stavans, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of murder

Browse Nearby Words

slaty
slaughter
slaughtered
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Cite this Entry

“Slaughter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaughter. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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