slayer

[sley-er]

noun

1. a person who kills another person or creature, usually violently, or who destroys something.

   In the movie, the prince is a dragon slayer on a mission to kill the dragon responsible for corrupting the heart of the king.

   In Hindu legend, the goddess Kalaratri is worshiped as the slayer of darkness and ignorance.

Word History and Origins

Origin of slayer¹

slay ( def. ) + -er ¹

Example Sentences

She developed a reputation as a giant slayer by outcompeting market-leader Intel a decade ago to take the lead in producing central processing units, or CPUs, for personal computers and data centers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They can also be decapitated with a special sword wielded by demon slayers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But it’s satisfying to imagine that somewhere in the wilderness, a Goliath slayer is waiting for the right time to strike.

Read more on Salon

Sarah Michelle Gellar, the series’ titular supernatural slayer, confirmed reports this week that a reboot of the beloved series is in the works more than 20 years since its finale.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Is this secret slayer a cynic who hates the love that Valentine’s Day stands for, or a purist who hates the commericalized extravagance it’s become?

Read more on Los Angeles Times