slay
verb
\ ˈslā
\
\
slew\ ˈslü
\
also especially in sense 2 slayed;
slain\ ˈslān
\;
slaying;
slays
\
also especially in sense 2 slayed;
slain\ ˈslān
\;
slaying;
slays
Definition of slay
1
transitive
: to kill violently, wantonly, or in great numbers
slay the enemy This was the appearance of a dreadful epidemic which in that age, and long before and afterward, was wont to slay its hundreds and thousands on both sides of the Atlantic.— Nathaniel Hawthorne
broadly
: to strike down : kill
slay a dragon "It's a lot easier to slay a vampire with a stake in the heart than it is to slay some of our demons that are in our heads." — Rachel T. Hill
2
transitive
informal
: to delight or amuse immensely
slayed the audience … [Seth Rogen] is currently slaying critics with Superbad, which he co-wrote with Evan Goldberg.— Tanner Stransky
3
transitive + intransitive
informal
: to do something or perform exceptionally well or impressively : to be exceptionally impressive
From the Let Girls Learn initiative to her Vogue covers, [Yara Shahidi] slays it all.— Rebecca Sun Beyoncé did not come to this year's Grammy Awards just to slay, she came to make a statement.— Jackie Fields From the red carpet to her sure-to-be epic performance, one thing is for certain—she's gonna slay.— Quinn Keaney