slay

[sley]

verb (used with object)

slew, slayed , slain , slaying .

1. to kill by violence.

   In this game, your goal is to slay the evil dragon and take his hoard.

   Synonyms: assassinate, butcher, massacre, slaughter, murder

2. to destroy; extinguish.

   Together we are slaying our self-doubt and working towards our dreams.

   Synonyms: ruin, annihilate

3. Slang.

   1. to impress strongly and favorably; overwhelm, especially by humor.

      Your jokes slay me.

   2. to make a strong favorable impression with.

      She really slayed her performance last night.

4. sley.

5. Obsolete.,  to strike.

verb (used without object)

slew, slayed , slain , slaying .

1. to kill or murder.

2. Slang.,  to have a strong favorable effect; to be remarkably impressive.

   His whole album slays.

noun

1. sley.

slay

/ sleɪ /

verb

1. archaic,  to kill, esp violently

2. slang,  to impress (someone) sexually

3. obsolete,  to strike

Other Word Forms

• slayer noun
• slayable adjective
• unslayable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of slay¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English sleen, slayn, Old English slēan; cognate with Dutch slaan, German schlagen, Old Norse slā, Gothic slahan “to strike, beat”

Word History and Origins

Origin of slay¹

Old English slēan; related to Old Norse slā, Gothic, Old High German slahan to strike, Old Irish slacaim I beat

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. slay the day, to have a good or successful day.

   I woke up refreshed and ready to slay the day.

Example Sentences

Mexican authorities are blaming the Gulf cartel for the slayings of the five members of a band, El Fugitivo, in the border state of Tamaulipas.

From Los Angeles Times

Deputies have located 32-year-old Axel Abel Trevino, who officials said was a person of interest in the slayings of three people discovered in two separate vehicles on Sunday afternoon.

From Los Angeles Times

On a night the Dodgers had a stadium-wide giveaway promotion for the anime show “Demon Slayer,” the club slayed a few recently troublesome demons of its own.

From Los Angeles Times

On the verge of a potential slaying, his team instead breathed fire back.

From Los Angeles Times

Escalante and his family were living at his parents’ home in Cypress Park at the time of his slaying.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assassinate 
• butcher 
• destroy 
• dispatch 
• execute 
• exterminate 
• massacre 
• murder 
• slaughter 

When To Use

What else does slay mean?

Slay can mean "to kill a person or animal," "to make someone laugh," "to have sex with someone," or "to do something spectacularly well," especially when it comes to fashion, artistic performance, or self-confidence.