Learn English – Word to describe killing for deterrence

single-word-requests

Is there a word or phrase that describes an event where someone or a group of people are killed or executed, usually publicly, as a means of deterrence?

A close candidate is a "scare tactic."

Thank you.

Best Answer

It is not a single word, but when a person is or group of people are killed to show what happens to people who act thus, it can be said that they were "made an example of."

make an example of somebody

to punish someone for doing something so that other people will not do the same thing. They want to make an example of him by keeping him in prison under very difficult conditions.

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