assassination

[uh-sas-uh-ney-shuhn]

noun

1. the premeditated act of killing someone suddenly or secretively, especially a prominent person.

   The meticulous way in which the journalist's assassination was carried out has led to suspicions that his killers were professionals working for state security.

2. the act of destroying or harming treacherously and viciously.

   They went after me with everything they had, engaging in character assassination and in destroying my reputation—a complete fabrication and frame-up.

Other Word Forms

• counterassassination noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of assassination¹

assassin(ate) ( def. ) + -ation ( def. )

Example Sentences

A jury found Routh, 59, guilty of all charges, including the attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and a range of firearm offences.

From BBC

In the spy romance series Tempest, Jun Ji-hyun, one of South Korea's biggest stars, plays a diplomat trying to uncover the truth behind a deadly assassination.

From BBC

Hundreds of celebrities signed on to a letter backing late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel after ABC suspended his show over remarks he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

From BBC

In an interview with the New York Times ahead of conservative activist Charlie Kirk‘s funeral, however, she said that his assassination was “God’s plan” and that her faith keeps her from wanting revenge.

From Salon

Van Jones, the progressive CNN commentator often publicly sparring with Kirk, revealed this week that the conservative activist sent him a private message just one day before his assassination.

From Salon

Related Words

• bloodshed 
• crime 
• destruction 
• felony 
• homicide 
• lynching www.thesaurus.com
• manslaughter 
• massacre 
• shooting www.thesaurus.com
• slaying www.thesaurus.com
• terrorism