assassinate

[ uh-sas-uh-neyt ]
/ əˈsæs əˌneɪt /

verb (used with object), as·sas·si·nat·ed, as·sas·si·nat·ing.

to kill suddenly or secretively, especially a politically prominent person; murder premeditatedly and treacherously.
to destroy or harm treacherously and viciously: to assassinate a person's character.

Origin of assassinate

First recorded in 1590–1600; assassin + -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM assassinate

Example sentences from the Web for assassination

British Dictionary definitions for assassination

assassinate
/ (əˈsæsɪˌneɪt) /

verb (tr)

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

Derived forms of assassinate

assassination, noun