murder 1 of 2

murder

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word murder distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of murder are assassinate, dispatch, execute, kill, and slay. While all these words mean "to deprive of life," murder specifically implies stealth and motive and premeditation and therefore full moral responsibility.

convicted of murdering a rival

When could assassinate be used to replace murder?

Although the words assassinate and murder have much in common, assassinate applies to deliberate killing openly or secretly often for political motives.

terrorists assassinated the Senator

When might dispatch be a better fit than murder?

The words dispatch and murder can be used in similar contexts, but dispatch stresses quickness and directness in putting to death.

dispatched the sentry with one bullet

Where would execute be a reasonable alternative to murder?

In some situations, the words execute and murder are roughly equivalent. However, execute stresses putting to death as a legal penalty.

executed by lethal gas

When would kill be a good substitute for murder?

While in some cases nearly identical to murder, kill merely states the fact of death caused by an agency in any manner.

killed in an accident
frost killed the plants

When is it sensible to use slay instead of murder?

While the synonyms slay and murder are close in meaning, slay is a chiefly literary term implying deliberateness and violence but not necessarily motive.

slew thousands of the Philistines

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of murder
Noun
Robbery, rape, kidnapping and murder were frequent. Lauren Vuong, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025 Mangione, 26, was hit Thursday with a four-charge indictment, which included two counts of stalking, firearms offense and murder through the use of a firearm. Filip Timotija, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
The manosphere is mentioned explicitly for only a few minutes in Adolescence, the wildly popular Netflix show about a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering his female classmate, Katie. Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025 The lower court held that plaintiffs could sue the company over looting during the deportation of 440,000 Jews, most of whom were murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Sarah Federman, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for murder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murder
Noun
  • Package delivery and unpaid toll texts have taken most of the headlines, but an even worse threat is proving a nightmare for phone users.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • What begins as an ordinary parental milestone descends into a nightmare as a cross-border search unfolds.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Sheriff’s office homicide detectives have taken over the investigation from Florida City police, Rodriguez said.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2025
  • This investigation is ongoing; any information regarding the shooting may be shared with Little Rock police homicide detectives at (501) 371-4660.
    Jesse Cain, Arkansas Online, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Routh has since pleaded not guilty to one count of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate and four firearm offenses.
    Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The health secretary — who was 14 years old when his father was assassinated — has shown an interest in the case for years, doubting the conclusion that Sirhan was responsible for his father's killing.
    Joe Walsh, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Later in the first period, Theodore fumbled the puck into the skates of his teammate, Hertl, on their way out of the defensive zone, and Foligno added to Minnesota’s lead.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Every moment spent fumbling with gear in those temperatures came at a cost—to fingers, batteries, and hard drives alike.
    Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Payton faces one charge each of torture and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The story said that Tidwell's testimony was also used in the sentencing of two other men: Calvin Stovall was sentenced to life in prison in 2008 on federal marijuana-trafficking charges, and Darrell Walker was sentenced to 24 years for participating in Johnson's torture and slaying.
    Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Yolo County District Attorney’s prosecutors decided not to pursue the death penalty in the slayings.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • The manhunt The slaying of Pascal shocked in the Upper Florida Keys community, which, while certainly not immune from crime, rarely experiences brutal murders.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The number of people slain so far in 2025: 112. Chicago homicides, by year Data for 2025 is updated through April 24, 2025.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Her talent, truth, and impact will never be forgotten, and her legacy will continue to slay—always.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • What’s the dish that’s most likely to blow a skeptical traveler’s mind?
    David Hochman, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Vindman and his twin brother, Alex, both blew the whistle on Trump’s attempt to withhold military aid to Ukraine while pressuring the country’s leader to investigate the family of President Joe Biden.
    Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 28 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Murder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murder. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

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