An executioner is someone who puts a criminal to death. However, there are several other terms you can use instead of executioner such as hangman, headsman, garroter, killer, judicial officer, slaughterer, public executioner, death dealer, or official executioner. While these terms might sound harsh, they all refer to the same role as an executioner in carrying out the penalty for capital offenses. Each of these synonyms might have a slightly different connotation, but they all fit within the context of an executioner. It's essential to know these alternative terms when discussing the topic of capital punishment or in historical fiction.