slay

[ sley ]
See synonyms for slay on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),slew or slayed (especially for def. 3); slain;slay·ing.
  1. to kill by violence: In this game, your goal is to slay the evil dragon and take his hoard.

  2. to destroy; extinguish: Together we are slaying our self-doubt and working towards our dreams.

  1. Slang.

    • to impress strongly and favorably; overwhelm, especially by humor: Your jokes slay me.

    • to make a strong favorable impression with: She really slayed her performance last night.

  2. Obsolete. to strike.

verb (used without object),slew or slayed (especially for def. 7); slain;slay·ing.
  1. to kill or murder.

  2. Slang. to have a strong favorable effect; to be remarkably impressive: His whole album slays.

noun

Idioms about slay

  1. slay the day, to have a good or successful day: I woke up refreshed and ready to slay the day.

Origin of slay

1
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”

Other words for slay

Other words from slay

  • slay·a·ble, adjective
  • slay·er, noun
  • un·slay·a·ble, adjective

Words Nearby slay

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use slay in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for slay

slay

/ (sleɪ) /


verbslays, slaying, slew or slain (tr)
  1. archaic, or literary to kill, esp violently

  2. slang to impress (someone) sexually

  1. obsolete to strike

Origin of slay

1
Old English slēan; related to Old Norse slā, Gothic, Old High German slahan to strike, Old Irish slacaim I beat

Derived forms of slay

  • slayer, noun

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