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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

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

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Recent Examples of assassinate But one coffin is loosely draped with two yellow Hezbollah flags, and the funeral turns into a pro-Hezbollah event, featuring heartfelt chants of loyalty to Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah chief assassinated by Israel in late September. —

Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Oct. 2024 Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say that Teddy Roosevelt took office at age 42 when William McKinley was assassinated, not that he was elected at age 42. —

Dave Lawler, Axios, 20 Oct. 2024 Kate finds out from the French Prime Minister that the British intend to assassinate Lenkov, not arrest him. —

Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024 After a bitter and bloody struggle, the central government prevailed and Lincoln freed the enslaved people, but he was assassinated a month after starting his second term. —

Carl Leubsdorf, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for assassinate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for assassinate

Verb

Steven Lawson, charged with tampering with physical evidence and conspiracy to murder, will be tried separately from his son, Joseph Lawson, and Brooks Houck, who are also charged with tampering with physical evidence and conspiracy to murder, according to court records.

Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 5 Nov. 2024
Lambesis infamously spent nearly three years in prison after pleading guilty to soliciting an undercover cop to murder his then-wife and relaunched the band in 2018 after his release from prison.

Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2024