assassinate + person
Kill a public figure deliberately
Use a direct object after assassinate.
The attackers assassinated the diplomat outside the embassy.
Assassinate in or assassinate by?
Assassinate usually takes a direct object without a preposition. In and by may appear in the sentence for location or method.
Quick answer
Use assassinate with a direct object
The verb assassinate is normally followed directly by the person targeted. “Assassinate in” and “assassinate by” are not fixed verb-preposition combinations, although in and by can introduce location or method.
The group assassinated the political leader.
He was assassinated in the capital last year.
The president was assassinated by a gunman during the parade.
He was assassinated in the capital last year.
The president was assassinated by a gunman during the parade.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
assassinated in + place
Show where the event happened
In introduces location, not a fixed preposition after the verb.
The activist was assassinated in public.
assassinated by + agent
Name the killer or group responsible
By is common in passive sentences to identify the agent.
The leader was assassinated by extremists.
assassinated with + weapon
Mention the weapon used
With introduces the instrument used in the attack.
The official was assassinated with a concealed weapon.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
assassinate + person
They assassinated the senator.
Standard active pattern with a direct object.
assassinated in + place
The journalist was assassinated in her home.
In introduces location.
assassinated by + agent
The ruler was assassinated by rebels.
By introduces the person or group responsible in passive voice.
assassinate by
Assassinate by itself is not a standard fixed combination.
By normally belongs to a passive structure such as was assassinated by.
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Adding an unnecessary preposition
Assassinate normally takes a direct object.
✕ They assassinated against the leader. ✓ They assassinated the leader.Using by in active voice incorrectly
By usually follows a passive form.
✕ They assassinated by rebels the president. ✓ The president was assassinated by rebels.Confusing location with verb pattern
In introduces location only.
✕ They assassinated in the mayor. ✓ They assassinated the mayor in his office.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. The group assassinated ___ minister.
2. The leader was assassinated ___ a militant group.
3. The official was assassinated ___ the airport.
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Frequently asked questions
Does assassinate need a preposition?
Usually no. The verb commonly takes a direct object, such as assassinate a leader.
Can I say assassinated by?
Yes, in passive structures like was assassinated by a gunman.
What preposition is used for the weapon?
With is commonly used to mention the weapon, as in assassinated with a bomb.
Related preposition guides
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