assassinate
Murder a leader
To assassinate is to murder a prominent person, typically for political or ideological reasons.
The word implies premeditation and often public significance—presidents, civil rights leaders, and religious figures are assassinated; ordinary citizens are simply murdered.
Lincoln was assassinated in 1865.
They plotted to assassinate the ambassador.
The noun is assassination; the killer is an assassin.
Intentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- cloak-and-daggerInvolving secret intrigue
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- infiltrateEnter secretly to observe
ambush · stalk · lurk · shadow · furtive · surreptitious · undetected · concealment
Professional paid murderer
- gunmanArmed violent person
- operativeCovert field agent
- agentOne who acts independently
- mercenarySoldier fighting for pay
contract killer · lone wolf · conspirator · triggerman · sicario · ninja · sniper · poisoner
One harmed by another
- markVisible impression or sign
- dignitaryPerson of high rank
- head of stateNation's chief representative
- monarchHereditary supreme ruler
president · prime minister · political figure · leader · VIP · public figure · high-profile · archduke
Of government matters
- regime changeReplacement of governing power
- power grabAttempt to seize control
- vendettaProlonged retaliatory conflict
- eliminationAct of removing entirely
silencing · destabilization · retaliation · fanaticism · extremism · ideology · martyr · purge
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- cabalScheming political faction
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
machination · mastermind · orchestrate · premeditate · collusion · treachery · betrayal · sedition
covert
Intentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- cloak-and-daggerInvolving secret intrigue
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
infiltrate · ambush · stalk · lurk · shadow · furtive · surreptitious · undetected · concealment · disguise
hitman
Professional paid murderer
mercenary · contract killer · lone wolf · conspirator · triggerman · sicario · ninja · sniper · poisoner
victim
One harmed by another
- markVisible impression or sign
- dignitaryPerson of high rank
- head of stateNation's chief representative
monarch · president · prime minister · political figure · leader · VIP · public figure · high-profile · archduke · Caesar
political
Of government matters
- regime changeReplacement of governing power
- power grabAttempt to seize control
- vendettaProlonged retaliatory conflict
elimination · silencing · destabilization · retaliation · fanaticism · extremism · ideology · martyr · purge · succession
conspiracy
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- cabalScheming political faction
coup · machination · mastermind · orchestrate · premeditate · collusion · treachery · betrayal · sedition · subversion
assassinateresurrect
Restore after ending
revive · resuscitate · bring back to life · raise from the dead · reanimate
- Lincoln assassinationMurder of sixteenth president
- character assassinationDestroying someone's good name
- assassination attemptEffort to kill a prominent figure
- assassination plotScheme to kill a target
- political assassinationKilling for governmental change
- Kennedy assassinationPresidential murder, 1963