Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who murders someone, especially a prominent political figure, by a surprise attack, often as a hired agent: An "assassinator" is specifically one who carries out an assassination, which is a planned, treacherous killing, typically of a public figure.

Usage

• The word "assassinator" is a formal and somewhat less common synonym for "assassin." It is used to emphasize the role of the individual who performs the act of assassination.
• It is typically used in historical, political, or journalistic contexts.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The historical records named the conspirator as the primary assassinator of the duke.
  • Security forces were deployed to protect the ambassador from potential assassinators.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used metaphorically in literary contexts to describe someone who destroys or undermines something in a sudden, treacherous manner.
  • He was seen as the assassinator of the old political order.

Variants and Related Words

• Assassinate (verb): To murder (a usually prominent person) by a sudden or secret attack.
  • The plot to assassinate the senator was uncovered.
• Assassination (noun): The act of assassinating someone.
  • The assassination of the president shocked the nation.
• Assassin (noun): A more common and direct synonym for "assassinator."
  • The assassin fired a single shot.

Synonyms

• Assassin: A murderer, especially one who kills a politically important person.
• Hitman: A person who is paid to murder someone.
• Slayer: A person who kills someone (can be more general).

Related Phrases

• While "assassinator" itself is not typically part of phrasal verbs, it is related to the action described by the verb phrase "to carry out an assassination."
  • The group was trained to carry out the assassination with precision.

Noun

1. a murderer (especially one who kills a prominent political figure) who kills by a surprise attack and often is hired to do the deed
   • his assassins were hunted down like animals
   • assassinators of kings and emperors