Meaning

(transitive, now literary) To kill; to murder..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive, now literary) To kill; to murder.
2. (transitive, literary) To eradicate or stamp out.
3. (transitive, by extension, hyperbolic, informal) To defeat; to overcome (in a competition or contest).
4. (transitive, slang) To delight or overwhelm, especially with laughter.
5. (ambitransitive, chiefly African-American Vernacular and LGBTQ slang) To amaze, stun, or otherwise incapacitate by excellence; to excel at something.
6. (slang) To have sex with.
7. That slays (in any sense).
8. (chiefly African-American Vernacular and LGBTQ slang) Something excellent, amazing, or fashionable.

Example Sentences

The knight slew the dragon.

Our foes must all be slain.

In the meane time it chaunced, that Marcus Papyrius ſtroke one of the Galles on the heade with his ſtaffe, because he preſumed to ſtroke his bearde: with whiche iniurie the Gaulle beeing prouoked, ſlue Papyrius (as he ſate) with hys ſworde, and therewith the ſlaughter being begun with one, all the reſidue of thoſe auncient fatherly men as they ſat in theyr Chayres were ſlaine and cruelly murthered.

The Prince of Morocco: […]By this scimitar, That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince That won three fields of Sultan Solyman, I would outstare the sternest eyes that look, Outbrave the heart most daring on earth, Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear, Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey, To win thee, lady. […]

Slay not your children, fearing a fall to poverty, We shall provide for them and for you. Lo! the slaying of them is great sin.

"This is a graph of the death rate from infectious disease in this country. The heroes of my field have slain one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. While the heroes of your field gathered in the desert to create a new one."

You must slay these thoughts.

The Yankees were actually slayed by two former Yankees because Rich Gossage pitched one scoreless inning in relief of Eckersley to notch his first victory.

Word Forms

• slays
• slaying
• slew
• slayed
• slain
• yslain
• more slay
• most slay

Synonyms for slay

Related Words

When Should You Use Slay?

Use slay when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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