Can only famous people be assassinated??

From dictionary.com


To murder (a prominent person) by surprise attack, as for political reasons.
To destroy or injure treacherously: assassinate a rival's character.

v 1: murder; especially of socially prominent persons; "Anwar Sadat was assassinated because many people did not like his peace politics with Israel" 2: destroy or damage seriously, as of someone's reputation; "He assassinated his enemy's character"

I go by Chris Rock's definition:

"J.F.K, Martin Luther King were assassinated. Tupac and Biggie: them ******s got shot!!"

So I guess it's not so much famous, as it is importance. ;)

I go by Chris Rock's definition:

"J.F.K, Martin Luther King were assassinated. Tupac and Biggie: them ******s got shot!!"

So I guess it's not so much famous, as it is importance. ;)
You beat me to the punch...TRUE TRUE TRUE

I go by Chris Rock's definition:

"J.F.K, Martin Luther King were assassinated. Tupac and Biggie: them ******s got shot!!"

So I guess it's not so much famous, as it is importance. ;)

:nod: Yep - another reason I love Chris - he says it as it is!

Either way, the victim ends up dead and its another life down the drain.

They're synonymous enough. The act and result are ultimately the same.

Murder begins with the letter "M"
Assassination begins with the letter "A"

Assassination-Murder of a leader... President, Prime Minister, Senator, Civil Rights leader, etc.
Murder-Murder of anyone else

I've heard/seen some people refer to John Lennon as being "assassinated." I wish they wouldn't, as the term being used (towards John's death) makes me feel uncomfortable. I hate the fact that he was killed at all, but when people refer to it as an "assassination" it makes it sound as though he was killed because he was seen as an enemy, or a threat to people, or that an organisation wanted him dead. It just gives it a more sinister feeling, and one that I'd rather be kept away from it (it was a tragic enough event, anyway.) Having said that, I sometimes think that some people who use the word "assassination" sometimes just use it because they think of it as a "fancy" word for murder - I've been known to use bigger words because it sounds more "intellectual" myself. But even so, when it's used to refer to John's being killed, it just feels horrible to me.

I've heard/seen some people refer to John Lennon as being "assassinated." I wish they wouldn't, as the term being used (towards John's death) makes me feel uncomfortable. I hate the fact that he was killed at all, but when people refer to it as an "assassination" it makes it sound as though he was killed because he was seen as an enemy, or a threat to people, or that an organisation wanted him dead. It just gives it a more sinister feeling, and one that I'd rather be kept away from it (it was a tragic enough event, anyway.) Having said that, I sometimes think that some people who use the word "assassination" sometimes just use it because they think of it as a "fancy" word for murder - I've been known to use bigger words because it sounds more "intellectual" myself. But even so, when it's used to refer to John's being killed, it just feels horrible to me.


Yes, I agree. To me Assassination has always meant the murder of an elected official. John Lennon was MURDERED!RIP John! :( A pox on his murderer! :mad:

Yes, I agree. To me Assassination has always meant the murder of an elected official. John Lennon was MURDERED!RIP John! :( A pox on his murderer! :mad:
Miss You John... :( MURDERED INDEED... :(

I've heard/seen some people refer to John Lennon as being "assassinated." I wish they wouldn't, as the term being used (towards John's death) makes me feel uncomfortable. I hate the fact that he was killed at all, but when people refer to it as an "assassination" it makes it sound as though he was killed because he was seen as an enemy, or a threat to people, or that an organisation wanted him dead. It just gives it a more sinister feeling, and one that I'd rather be kept away from it (it was a tragic enough event, anyway.) Having said that, I sometimes think that some people who use the word "assassination" sometimes just use it because they think of it as a "fancy" word for murder - I've been known to use bigger words because it sounds more "intellectual" myself. But even so, when it's used to refer to John's being killed, it just feels horrible to me.I heard that Dimebag Darrell was also "assassinated".