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assassinator

assassinator

1 8.3
A person who secretly kills an important person, often for money
  • noun
  • /əˈsæsɪneɪtər/
translation icon : asesino
  • But perhaps the least productive path is letting the reputation assassinators define the conversation.

Examples

  • The police arrested a notorious assassinator who had been targeting political figures.

  • Many believe that the assassinator was hired to eliminate the high-profile activist.

  • After years of investigation, the team finally identified the infamous assassinator responsible for the attacks.

Synonyms

killer
vsassassinator
  • NSFW
1.9

A person or animal that makes another living thing die on purpose

is more specific, focusing on secret sudden attacks against prominent individuals
murderer
vsassassinator
  • NSFW
946 3.4

A person who illegally kills another person on purpose

is narrower, highlighting secret sudden attacks and notable targets rather than general murder
shooter
vsassassinator
520 3.6

A person who fires a gun, sometimes paid to kill others

focuses more on secret sudden attacks on high-profile targets regardless of skill
assassin
vsassassinator
  • NSFW
230 6.3

A person who secretly kills a leader for political or religious reasons

is used more for paid attacks rather than chiefly political motives
hit man
vsassassinator
  • Offensive
57 7.6

A person who criminals pay to kill someone

is closer to attacks on notable people rather than general criminal hits
hitman
vsassassinator
  • NSFW
49 8.1

A person who is paid to kill someone, often with a gun

is similar but usually implies attacks that target prominent figures secretly
bravo
vsassassinator
  • NSFW
9 9.9

A person hired to kill someone in a sudden attack

focuses similarly on secret sudden attacks but highlights hire more often
poisoner
vsassassinator
  • NSFW
8 6.8

A person who kills or tries to kill others by giving them something that makes them very ill

is different in method, stressing secret sudden attacks rather than poison use
stabber
vsassassinator
  • NSFW
6 6.3

A person who hurts someone with a knife or other sharp object

is method-specific, while the key stresses sudden secret attacks on prominent people
triggerman
vsassassinator
  • Literature
5 9.7

A person who uses a gun to kill people for money or on orders

is broader, covering secret sudden attacks not limited to firearms
hired gun
vsassassinator
  • Offensive
4 8.9

A person paid to kill someone

is used more for killings aimed at prominent targets and secret methods
gun for hire
vsassassinator
  • NSFW
2 9.1

A person who is paid to kill someone with a gun

is broader, allowing various methods and often targeting notable people
sicarius
vsassassinator
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person who kills someone on purpose

is narrower, stressing secret sudden attacks against prominent targets
capper
vsassassinator
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who kills someone, usually with a gun

is more formal and often implies targeted secret attacks on notable people
liquidator
vsassassinator
  • Offensive
9.6

A person who kills others for political or criminal reasons

is similar but emphasizes sudden secret attacks on notable individuals
hitwoman
vsassassinator
  • NSFW
9.9

A woman who is paid to kill someone, often using a gun

is the same role but often used for secret attacks on public figures
hatchet man
vsassassinator
  • NSFW
9.9

A person paid to kill someone

leans more toward sudden secret attacks on prominent individuals

How Targeted

hitman
  • NSFW
49 8.1
assassinator
1 8.3
murderer
  • NSFW
946 3.4
killer
  • NSFW
1.9

Surface Forms

assassinator singular
assassinators plural

Morphology

assassinator = assassin (transparent) = assassin + ator

The meaning 'one who murders' is directly derived from the base noun 'assassin' with a clear agentive suffix '-ator'.

Etymology

Assassinator begins with assassin, a word that likely comes from Arabic hashishin, meaning 'hashish users', and one popular story says secret killers were given hashish, which gives a strong image of hidden, dangerous men. The ending -ator, as in creator, makes a word mean 'a person who does something', so assassinator is 'a person who kills secretly or suddenly'.