assassination

noun

as·​sas·​si·​na·​tion ə-ˌsa-sə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce assassination (audio)
plural assassinations
1
: murder by sudden or secret attack often for political reasons : the act or an instance of assassinating someone (such as a prominent political leader)
the assassination of Abraham Lincoln
an assassination attempt
In medieval days, assassination by poisoning was common enough to alarm many a king, and protection was sought in the form of prayers, food tasters and science.The New York Times
2
: treacherous destruction of a person's reputation
character assassination

Examples of assassination in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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On September 30, Routh pleads not guilty to all five charges, including the assassination attempt, gun charges and assaulting an officer. CNN, 21 Nov. 2024 Following the historic political comeback by Trump — a man who won the 45th presidency, lost his first bid for reelection, was found guilty on felony charges in a hush money trial and faced two assassination attempts — here's how people around Louisville are feeling. Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 20 Nov. 2024 The most shocking moments of the 2024 presidential election also came over the summer as Trump faced two assassination attempts, including a shooting at a Pennsylvania campaign rally in which one man, Corey Comperatore, was killed. David Jackson, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024 Investigators are also working to determine why Ryan Routh, the suspect charged in the second assassination attempt in September, allegedly pointed a rifle toward Trump just outside the perimeter of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for assassination 

Word History

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of assassination was in 1610

Dictionary Entries Near assassination

Cite this Entry

“Assassination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assassination. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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