slaughter

1 of 2

noun

slaugh·​ter ˈslȯ-tər How to pronounce slaughter (audio)
Synonyms of slaughternext
1
: the act of killing
specifically : the butchering of livestock for market
2
: killing of great numbers of human beings (as in battle or a massacre) : carnage

slaughter

2 of 2

verb

slaughtered; slaughtering; slaughters

transitive verb

1
: to kill (animals) for food : butcher
2
a
: to kill in a bloody or violent manner : slay
b
: to kill in large numbers : massacre
3
: to discredit, defeat, or demolish completely
slaughterer
ˈslȯ-tər-ər How to pronounce slaughter (audio)
noun

Synonyms

Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of slaughter in a Sentence

Noun the slaughter of innocent people all civilized nations should protest this senseless slaughter Verb Our team got slaughtered yesterday. modern poultry farms slaughter a vast number of chickens every day
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.
Noun
Here, Munir may be vaccinating chickens rather than grabbing them on their way to slaughter, but the work is just as thankless and cruel. — Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 27 Mar. 2025 Some conservationists say the slaughter is cruel and unnecessary. — Prianka Srinivasan Matthew Abbott, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
Instead, hundreds of Russian commandos were slaughtered at Moshchun by a ragged mix of Ukrainian troops, policemen, national guardsmen and regular civilians, some of them armed with nothing more than hand grenades and hunting rifles. — Simon Shuster, TIME, 24 Mar. 2025 Birds are dying off — or they're slaughtered — by the thousands. — Suzy Khimm, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slaughter

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse slātra to slaughter; akin to Old English sleaht slaughter, slēan to slay — more at slay

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of slaughter was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing slaughter

Rhymes for slaughter

See All Rhymes for slaughter

Browse Nearby Words

slaty gum
slaughter
slaughterhouse
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Cite this Entry

“Slaughter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slaughter. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

slaughter

1 of 2 noun
slaugh·​ter ˈslȯt-ər How to pronounce slaughter (audio)
1
: the act of killing
especially : the butchering of livestock for market
2
: destruction of human lives in large numbers (as in war or a massacre)

slaughter

2 of 2 verb
1
: to kill an animal for food : butcher
2
: to kill without mercy or in large numbers : massacre
slaughterer
ˈslȯt-ər-ər How to pronounce slaughter (audio)
noun

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