murder 1 of 2

murder

2 of 2

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
The shocking New York City murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024 was followed by a July Midtown Manhattan shooting that claimed the lives of two security guards and two executives at Blackstone and Rudin Management. Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025 Her idyllic life with her husband Aitor (Roberto Álamo) and their teenage son Sebas (Teo Soler) begins to crumble when Félix is released from prison, coinciding with a new wave of crimes that eerily mirror the murders committed 25 years ago. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
Smith, the reputed leader of Miami’s John Doe gang, had been sentenced to death after being convicted of murdering four people in Liberty City in the 1990s. Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025 One of her Afghan neighbors was recently murdered by a gang in his bedroom, with his son watching. Vidushi Mishti Sharma, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for murder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murder
Noun
  • People who have extreme nightmares from PTSD can use NightWare, a prescription-only system that comes with a preprogrammed Apple Watch and detects if the wearer is having a nightmare.
    Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2025
  • In the decades since, gothic nightmares like Crimson Peak and supernatural horrors like Poltergeist have risen as staples of the subgenre.
    Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The death of 23-year-old Kada Scott has been ruled a homicide, prompting Philadelphia prosecutors to approve a murder charge Wednesday against the man arrested in her case, and her cause of death has been revealed.
    Doha Madani, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Trump was close to Abe, who was assassinated after leaving office.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
  • After he was assassinated in September at Utah Valley University, the first stop on his tour, TPUSA announced Carlson would speak at IU instead.
    Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • He was sacked seven times and fumbled twice with both loose balls being recovered by the Bills’ defense.
    Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
  • But that same quarter, Kansas fumbled on a punt that K-State turned into a touchdown.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The use of violence and torture became systematic, according to Ukrainian investigators and victims of these abuses.
    Simon Shuster, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The victim was initially roommates with the female suspect, a nursing assistant, France Bleu reported, before the female suspect's boyfriend moved in and the alleged torture began.
    Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Douglas County Sheriff Chris Degase told KY3 that the determination about Harm’s slaying raises disturbing new questions about Revak, an EMT by day.
    KC Baker, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Each of the three games in this collection feature bloody action that'll keep you entertained with demon and monster slaying for hours.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Unfortunately, the serial killer known as John Doe is ritualistically slaying victims by turning the seven deadly sins into symbolic, atrocious murders.
    Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
  • The Buckeyes and Ryan Day still need to slay the Michigan monster at the end of this book, and both have dates with a suddenly feisty UCLA.
    Erick Smith, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Giants, meanwhile, are coming off a painful defeat to the Denver Broncos, after blowing a 19-0 lead and losing 33-32 on a last-second Denver field goal after missing two PATs of their own, including one with 37 seconds left.
    Mike Jones, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
  • After the final whistle blew at Memorial Stadium, Kiffin made some headlines for his postgame behavior toward an Oklahoma player.
    Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Murder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murder. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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