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Assassin vs Desperado - What's the difference?

assassin | desperado | Synonyms |

Assassin is a synonym of desperado.


As nouns the difference between assassin and desperado

is that assassin is (historical) a member of a muslim militant group responsible for murdering christian leaders during the crusades while desperado is a bold outlaw, especially one from southern portions of the wild west.

As a verb assassin

is (nonstandard) to assassinate.

assassin

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (historical) A member of a Muslim militant group responsible for murdering Christian leaders during the Crusades.
  • *, II.29:
    • The Assassines , a nation depending of Phœnicia, are esteemed among the Mahometists of a soveraigne devotion and puritie of maners; they hold, that the readiest and shortest way to gaine Paradise, is to kill some one of a contrary religion.
  • Someone who intentionally kills a person, especially a professional who kills a public or political figure.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-29, volume=407, issue=8842, page=55, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Travels and travails , passage=Even without hovering drones, a lurking assassin , a thumping score and a denouement, the real-life story of Edward Snowden, a rogue spy on the run, could be straight out of the cinema. But, as with Hollywood, the subplots and exotic locations may distract from the real message: America’s discomfort and its foes’ glee.}}
  • Any ruthless killer.

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * (assassin spider) * assassinate * assassination * assassinator * assassinatrix * assassinous * royal assassin

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (nonstandard) To assassinate.

    • desperado

    English

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • A bold outlaw, especially one from southern portions of the Wild West.
  • *1850 , (Thomas Carlyle), (Latter-Day Pamphlets)'', ''The present time
    • The kind of persons who excite or give signal to — students, young men of letters […], or fierce and justly bankrupt desperadoes , acting everywhere on the discontent of the millions and blowing it into flame, — might give rise to reflections as to the character of our epoch.
  • *1918 , (Willa Cather), (My Antonia) , Mirado Modern Classics, paperback edition, page 6
  • *:Surely this was the face of a desperado .
  • (chess) A piece that seems determined to give itself up, typically to bring about stalemate or perpetual check.