slay

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/sleɪ/
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To kill in a dramatic or literary sense, to overwhelm someone with laughter or admiration, and in slang to perform or look exceptionally well.
Practice using this word in conversation

Examples

  • In the poem, a single arrow slays the giant.
  • She slayed on the runway in a silver suit.
  • He walked in late and still slayed the interview.
  • The comedian slayed the audience with one story.
  • The warrior slew the dragon before sunrise.

Similar words

crush
floor
dominate
shine
destroy
overwhelm
slaughter
crack up
wow
murder

Meanings

Kill violently

verb
violence
literary
To kill a person, animal, or creature, especially in a dramatic, violent, or old-fashioned style.

Usage

Use slay for killing in myth, fantasy, news-style summaries, or heightened prose, and use kill in plain everyday wording.

Examples

  • The warrior slew the dragon before sunrise.
  • The legend says the monster was slain by a village girl.
  • The king vowed to slay anyone who betrayed the realm.
  • Several guards were slain in the ambush.
  • In the poem, a single arrow slays the giant.
  • The hunter refused to slay the wounded animal.

Common mistakes

The irregular forms are replaced by regular forms in formal or literary use.
IncorrectCorrect
The hero slayed the dragon in the old tale. The hero slew the dragon in the old tale.
The slained warriors were buried at dawn. The slain warriors were buried at dawn.
The storm slayed the town. The storm devastated the town.

Similar words

kill
murder
slaughter
dispatch
strike down
execute
destroy

Impress or amuse strongly

verb
humor
informal
To affect someone very strongly, often by making them laugh, surprising them, or winning their admiration.

Usage

Use slay with an object in this sense, as in that joke slayed me, when someone is powerfully amused or impressed.

Examples

  • Her deadpan answer slayed the whole room.
  • That final line slays me every time.
  • The comedian slayed the audience with one story.
  • His impression of the teacher absolutely slayed us.
  • The surprise ending slayed fans at the premiere.
  • A tiny wink from the actor slayed the crowd.

Common mistakes

The object is dropped even though this sense usually says who is affected.
IncorrectCorrect
That joke slayed. That joke slayed me.
The speech slew me with boring slides. The speech bored me with its slides.
Her timing slay the audience. Her timing slays the audience.

Similar words

delight
wow
amaze
crack up
floor
impress
overwhelm

Excel or look amazing

verb
slang
slang
To do something exceptionally well, dominate a performance, or look strikingly good.

Usage

Use slay as high-energy praise in casual speech, especially for fashion, performance, confidence, or a job done brilliantly.

Examples

  • She slayed on the runway in a silver suit.
  • You slay every presentation you give.
  • The dancers slayed the final routine.
  • That red coat slays with the boots.
  • They slayed the competition with a flawless set.
  • He walked in late and still slayed the interview.

Common mistakes

The slang is used in formal settings or confused with the literal killing sense.
IncorrectCorrect
The surgeon slayed the operation in the medical report. The surgeon performed the operation successfully.
You slay the outfit yesterday. You slayed the outfit yesterday.
She killed someone on the runway. She slayed on the runway.

Similar words

excel
shine
crush
nail
dominate
rock
kill it

Usage

Use the literal sense in serious or literary contexts, and keep the praise senses for informal speech, performance, style, and social media.

Common mistakes

Slew and slain are replaced by slayed in formal use, the object is dropped in slayed me, and slang slay is used too formally.

Etymology

From Old English slean, meaning to strike or kill, related to German schlagen. The informal senses grow from the idea of being figuratively struck by laughter, admiration, or excellence.

FAQ

What does slay literally mean?

Slay literally means to kill, especially in dramatic, literary, mythic, or fantasy contexts.

What is the past tense of slay?

The traditional past tense is slew, and the past participle is slain, though slayed is also used, especially informally.

What does that joke slayed me mean?

That joke slayed me means the joke made someone laugh hard or strongly amused them.

What does slang slay mean?

In slang, slay means to do something exceptionally well or look strikingly good.

Is slay formal?

The killing sense can appear in literary or serious writing, but the praise sense belongs in informal contexts.

Where does slay come from?

Slay comes from Old English slean, meaning to strike or kill.

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