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 Words From

• coun·ter·as·sas·si·na·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of assassination¹

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

Example Sentences

The pair were playing together at the time of a second failed assassination attempt in September.

From BBC

Forsyth’s novel, closely echoed in Fred Zinnemann’s 1973 film, was based in relatively current events, an assassination attempt on French president Charles de Gaulle by a veterans group disgruntled by Algerian independence.

From Los Angeles Times

Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, armed gangs have seized power in many areas, leading to a spike in street violence in the poorest country in the Americas.

From BBC

Increasingly violent gang warfare has plagued the poorest nation in the Americas since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.

From BBC

He has also played into the prophecy fervor: During his victory speech last week, Trump referred to the assassination attempt on his life in July: “And I said that many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason. And that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness.”

From Slate

Related Words

• bloodshed
• crime
• destruction
• felony
• homicide
• lynching
• manslaughter
• massacre
• shooting
• slaying
• terrorism