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

• slayable adjective
• slayer noun
• 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

Other Republicans have used similar rhetoric since the slaying of Charlie Kirk, a conservative youth activist, in Utah last month.

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It all depended on what Laurie wore to kindergarten that day or whether Libby was sporting a ponytail, which slayed me every time.

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Hastings had used a calling card number that belonged to Roberta Wydermyer and was in her wallet at the time of the slaying.

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An anime film slayed its Hollywood competition at the box office this weekend.

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Hours after the slaying, police briefly detained two men.

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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.