assassination
noun
as·sas·si·na·tion
ə-ˌsa-sə-ˈnā-shən 
plural assassinations
1
: murder by sudden or secret attack often for political reasons : the act or an instance of assassinating someone (such as a prominent political leader)
the assassination of Abraham Lincoln
an assassination attempt
In medieval days, assassination by poisoning was common enough to alarm many a king, and protection was sought in the form of prayers, food tasters and science.—
The New York Times
The New York Times2
: treacherous destruction of a person's reputation
character assassination
Examples of assassination in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The summit comes two days after the first anniversary of the assassination attempt against Trump on July 13, 2024, just 30 miles north of Pittsburgh in Butler, Pennsylvania, and as Trump nears the six-month mark of his second term.
—Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2025
Goldwater lost the campaign against President Lyndon B. Johnson, who led a landslide in a nation still shaken by President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, but history shows that loss led to the conservative ascendancy and Republican recovery that continues today.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2025
Donald Trump pumps his fist as he is rushed offstage after an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
The report details threats against Trump and errors that the 30-page document said resulted in the near assassination of a major party's presidential candidate, the death of rallygoer Corey Comperatore, and injuries to two other attendees.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 13 July 2025
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Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2025
Goldwater lost the campaign against President Lyndon B. Johnson, who led a landslide in a nation still shaken by President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, but history shows that loss led to the conservative ascendancy and Republican recovery that continues today.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2025
Donald Trump pumps his fist as he is rushed offstage after an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
The report details threats against Trump and errors that the 30-page document said resulted in the near assassination of a major party's presidential candidate, the death of rallygoer Corey Comperatore, and injuries to two other attendees.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for assassination
Cite this Entry
“Assassination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assassination. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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