Synonyms for

Assassination

Verb / ʌˌsæsʌˈneɪʃʌn / Another word for assassination — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Assassination means the act of killing someone, usually a famous or important person, by a surprise attack.

Synonyms & similar words

blackwash characterassassination murder execution homicide killing elimination liquidation slaying extermination termination butchery massacre annihilation destruction slaughter dispatch assault attack ambush hit sniper

Synonyms by register

Formal

execution liquidation termination elimination

Informal

hit rub out offing whacking

Literary

slaying dispatch

Antonyms

birth creation endorsement support protection defense

Common collocations

  • political assassination
  • presidential assassination
  • attempted assassination
  • successful assassination
  • assassination attempt
  • assassination plot
  • assassination squad

Word family

noun assassination
verb assassinate
adjective assassinated

Usage note

Assassination specifically refers to the murder of a prominent person, often for political reasons. It is a formal term and should not be confused with general murder.

Example sentences

  1. The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. shocked the nation.
  2. John Wilkes Booth was the person who committed the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
  3. The assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan was unsuccessful.
  4. The CIA was accused of plotting the assassination of Fidel Castro.
  5. The president's security team is responsible for preventing assassinations.

Quotes

  • Assassination is the extreme form of censorship. - George Bernard Shaw
  • The assassination of John F. Kennedy is one of the most shocking events in American history.
  • The assassination of Gandhi was a great loss to India and the world.

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