assassin
Paid to eliminate
An assassin is someone who murders a prominent person, typically for political or ideological reasons.
The word implies premeditation and often a hired killer: The president's assassin was captured fleeing the scene.
Unlike ordinary murderers, assassins target figures of importance—leaders, activists, rivals.
The verb is assassinate; character assassination destroys reputation rather than life.
Professional paid murderer
- murdererOne who unlawfully kills
- executionerOne who kills condemned
- slayerOne who kills
- triggermanHired killer with firearm
gunman · liquidator · enforcer · cutthroat · sicario · eliminator · shooter · terminator
Harmful ingested substance
- bladeFlat cutting edge
- garroteStrangling implement
- sniperConcealed precision shooter
- silencerSound-dampening gun attachment
ambush · stalk · shadow · strike · dagger · stiletto · crossbow · blowgun
Reward for capture
- targetObject of pursuit
- markVisible impression or sign
- hitSuccessful contact or strike
- commissionPayment for services rendered
employer · assignment · execution · job · client · payment · contract · mercenary
Covert information gatherer
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- covertIntentionally concealed
- infiltrateEnter secretly to observe
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
clandestine · secretive · incognito · shadowy · unseen · undetected · disguise · concealment
Move with stealth
- infiltrateEnter secretly to observe
- shadowLight blocked by object
- silenceTotal lack of sound
- ghostApparition of the dead
undetected · elusive · prowl · stalk · ambush · concealment · evasion · cloak
Japanese espionage agent
- thugViolent criminal
- zealotObsessive cause supporter
- fedayeenSelf-sacrificing militant fighters
- cultFervent fringe group
guild · brotherhood · ancient · medieval · creed · vizier · sultan · caliph
Able to cause expiration
- fatalCausing death or ruin
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
- mercilessShowing no clemency
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
dangerous · vicious · murderous · savage · bloodthirsty · calculating · remorseless · pitiless
Punishment for wrongdoing
- revengePunishing a wrongdoer
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
- vendettaProlonged retaliatory conflict
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
payback · retaliation · avenger · wrath · justice · vindication · reprisal · comeuppance
hitman
Professional paid murderer
- murdererOne who unlawfully kills
- executionerOne who kills condemned
- slayerOne who kills
triggerman · gunman · liquidator · enforcer · cutthroat · sicario · eliminator · shooter · terminator · assailant
poison
Harmful ingested substance
silencer · ambush · stalk · shadow · strike · dagger · stiletto · crossbow · blowgun · toxin
bounty
Reward for capture
commission · employer · assignment · execution · job · client · payment · contract · mercenary · professional
spy
Covert information gatherer
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- covertIntentionally concealed
- infiltrateEnter secretly to observe
espionage · clandestine · secretive · incognito · shadowy · unseen · undetected · disguise · concealment · anonymous
sneak
Move with stealth
- infiltrateEnter secretly to observe
- shadowLight blocked by object
- silenceTotal lack of sound
ghost · undetected · elusive · prowl · stalk · ambush · concealment · evasion · cloak · camouflage
ninja
Japanese espionage agent
cult · guild · brotherhood · ancient · medieval · creed · vizier · sultan · caliph · political
deadly
Able to cause expiration
cold-blooded · dangerous · vicious · murderous · savage · bloodthirsty · calculating · remorseless · pitiless · efficient
retribution
Punishment for wrongdoing
grudge · payback · retaliation · avenger · wrath · justice · vindication · reprisal · comeuppance · vengeful
- action filmschase scene, car chase, explosion, stunt, shootout
- character classeswarrior, mage, rogue, cleric, paladin
- combatantssoldier, warrior, fighter, swordsman, spearman
- criminelsbandit, gangster, pickpocket
- roguesrogue, rogues, scoundrel, scoundrels, rascal
- Spy Thrillersspy, double agent, covert ops, classified, intel
assassinsoldier
Armed forces member
warrior · combatant · infantryman · knight · military officer
- Lincoln assassinationMurder of sixteenth president
- character assassinationDestroying someone's good name
- assassination attemptEffort to kill a prominent figure
- assassination plotScheme to kill a target
- Assassin's CreedHistorical stealth action franchise
- political assassinationKilling for governmental change
assassinate, assassination, assassinated, assassins, assassinating, assassinates