as in to head
to cut off the head of
Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded for plotting against Queen Elizabeth
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Recent Examples of behead
Mistaken as a comparatively commonplace artwork, it was owned by a 17th-century heir to the Scottish crown who was later beheaded, passed to the illegitimate son of an 18th-century duke, and then languished in obscurity for more than a century.
—
Brian Klaas, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
During that same era, the group also took Western hostages, killing several, including U.S. journalist James Foley, who was beheaded in 2014, and Arizona aid worker Kayla Mueller, confirmed dead in 2015.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
While it was believed all those aboard the Edsall died at sea, it was later learned, many years after the war ended, that a few survivors were picked up by the Japanese and beheaded on March 24, 1942.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 12 Nov. 2024
For that, John the Baptist was ultimately beheaded.
—Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 28 Jan. 2025
Disneyland adds new show scenes during Haunted Mansion makeover
The new storyline turns the attic bride from an axe murderer who beheads her wealthy husbands for their fortunes into a brooding bride mourning the loss of her husbands and filled with the overwhelming dread of lost love.
—Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 18 Jan. 2025
Holding an axe, she was portrayed as a murderous, wealth-seeking seductress who had beheaded her husbands, evident by their heads disappearing from the wedding portraits scattered around the attic.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Esther Strauss’s Crowning, a sculpture of the Virgin Mary giving birth that was commissioned by Linz Diocese, was beheaded while on view at the city’s St. Mary’s Cathedral as part of a wide-ranging exhibition addressing women’s roles and gender equality.
—News Desk, Artforum, 11 Dec. 2024
For a long time, Mr. Marcos remained largely silent about their remarks, including Ms. Duterte’s threat last month to behead him.
—Aie Balagtas See, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
Brian Klaas, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
During that same era, the group also took Western hostages, killing several, including U.S. journalist James Foley, who was beheaded in 2014, and Arizona aid worker Kayla Mueller, confirmed dead in 2015.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
While it was believed all those aboard the Edsall died at sea, it was later learned, many years after the war ended, that a few survivors were picked up by the Japanese and beheaded on March 24, 1942.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 12 Nov. 2024
For that, John the Baptist was ultimately beheaded.
—Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 28 Jan. 2025
Disneyland adds new show scenes during Haunted Mansion makeover
The new storyline turns the attic bride from an axe murderer who beheads her wealthy husbands for their fortunes into a brooding bride mourning the loss of her husbands and filled with the overwhelming dread of lost love.
—Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 18 Jan. 2025
Holding an axe, she was portrayed as a murderous, wealth-seeking seductress who had beheaded her husbands, evident by their heads disappearing from the wedding portraits scattered around the attic.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Esther Strauss’s Crowning, a sculpture of the Virgin Mary giving birth that was commissioned by Linz Diocese, was beheaded while on view at the city’s St. Mary’s Cathedral as part of a wide-ranging exhibition addressing women’s roles and gender equality.
—News Desk, Artforum, 11 Dec. 2024
For a long time, Mr. Marcos remained largely silent about their remarks, including Ms. Duterte’s threat last month to behead him.
—Aie Balagtas See, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Behead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behead. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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