assassinate

[ uh-sas-uh-neyt ]

verb (used with object)

, as·sas·si·nat·ed, as·sas·si·nat·ing.

1. to kill suddenly or secretively, especially a prominent person; murder premeditatedly and treacherously.

   Synonyms: slay

2. to destroy or harm treacherously and viciously:

   to assassinate a person's character.

assassinate

/ əˈsæsɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. to murder (a person, esp a public or political figure), usually by a surprise attack
2. to ruin or harm (a person's reputation, etc) by slander

Derived Forms

• asˌsassiˈnation, noun

Other Words From

• as·sas·si·na·tion [uh, -sas-, uh, -, ney, -sh, uh, n] noun
• as·sas·si·na·tive adjective
• as·sas·si·na·tor noun
• un·as·sas·si·nat·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of assassinate¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; assassin + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Not long after he was arrested, the FBI said that Hopkins and others had trained to assassinate former President Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and billionaire philanthropist George Soros.

From Time

The FBI discovered texts in which he threatened to assassinate Pelosi and District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser.

From Time

They wanted small, independent teams smart and flexible enough to blow up bridges, cut communication lines, train resistance fighters, and assassinate foreign targets, then slip away unnoticed.

From Popular-Science

His was the advice that kept Bill Clinton from unleashing hellfire on Iraq after its intelligence service had tried to assassinate Bush 41 during a visit to Kuwait.

From Time

Drones Change the GameWhen Obama authorized the use of an armed drone to assassinate an American citizen outside of a war zone for the first time, the rules of engagement changed forever.

From Ozy

Related Words

• execute
• gun down
• kill
• slaughter
• slay