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Assassinate vs Execute - What's the difference?

assassinate | execute |

As verbs the difference between assassinate and execute

is that assassinate is to murder someone, especially an important person, by a sudden or obscure attack, especially for ideological or political reasons while execute is to kill as punishment for capital crimes.

As a noun assassinate

is assassination, murder.

assassinate

English

Verb

  • To murder someone, especially an important person, by a sudden or obscure attack, especially for ideological or political reasons.
  • * , II.29:
  • The Assassines, a nation depending of PhÅ“nicia, are esteemed among the Mahometists.
  • (figuratively) To harm, ruin, or defame severely or destroy by treachery, slander, libel, or obscure attack.
  • * Dryden
  • Your rhymes assassinate our fame.
  • * Milton
  • Such usage as your honourable lords / Afford me, assassinated and betrayed.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) Assassination, murder.
  • (obsolete) An assassin.
  • * , vol.1, III.i.2:
  • Yet again, many of them desperate hairbrains, rash, careless, fit to be assassinates , as being void of all fear and sorrow […].

    See also

    * Wikipedia article on Assassins * murder * regicide ----

    execute

    English

    Verb

    (execut)
  • To kill as punishment for capital crimes.
  • There are certain states where it is lawful to execute prisoners convicted of certain crimes.
  • To carry out; to put into effect.
  • Your orders have been executed , sir!
    I'll execute your orders as soon as this meeting is adjourned.
  • * Milton
  • Why delays / His hand to execute what his decree / Fixed on this day?
  • To perform.
  • to execute a difficult piece of music brilliantly
    to execute a turn in ballet
  • To cause to become legally valid; as, to execute a contract.
  • (computing) To start, launch or run; as, to execute a program.
  • Synonyms

    * (computing) start, launch, run, open