Your question is very unclear. It's hard to tell what you want to obtain. Maybe 

my @matches = (
   $element =~ /(WEED)/,
   $element =~ /(DIAL)/,
   $element =~ /(PIES)/,
   $element =~ /(KILLD)/,
);
if (@matches) {
   ...
}

[download]

The above can be shortened by using map as a topicaliser. 

if (my @matches = map { /(WEED)/, /(DIAL)/, /(PIES)/, /(KILLD)/ } $ele
+ment) {
   ...
}

[download]

Update: If you don't mind one of the strings appearing twice if it appears twice in $element, you can use 

if (my @matches = $element =~ /(WEED|DIAL|PIES|KILLD)/g) {
   ...
}

[download]

In reply to Re: and or statement by ikegami
in thread and or statement by endsin1m

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