murder 1 of 2

Definition of murdernext

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

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
Thomas Sierra spent 22 years in prison on a murder conviction before it was overturned in 2018 — only to face another long legal battle. Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026 The woman charged in her murder, Kristin Ramsey, began working for a title and escrow company owned by Iowa Realty in the months after Okland’s death, Iowa Realty said last week. Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
Jury found Luis Antonio Gomes Akay guilty of murdering his girlfriend, Army reservist Anna Laura Costa Porsberg, whose body was never found. Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026 In the comedy, Dale, along with his friends Nick Hendricks (Bateman) and Kurt Buckman (Sudeikis), plot to murder their overbearing, abusive bosses, portrayed by Aniston, Kevin Spacey and Colin Farrell. Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for murder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murder
Noun
  • Their dream home is still a dream except that these people are making their backyard, their beach, a nightmare.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
  • David Mirković is a mismatch nightmare.
    Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The driver in the Philadelphia crash was later charged with DUI homicide.
    ABC News, ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The medical examiner determined Moore’s cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death to be homicide.
    Kathryn Kovalenko, Twin Cities, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • And Israel had been conducting a campaign to assassinate Iranian scientists, which made the prospect of lethal reprisal highly plausible.
    David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Tyler, Andrea’s making the point that on the surface there are talks happening but there are no real direct negotiations at those highest levels, in part because so many people have been assassinated.
    NBC news, NBC news, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • As the years went by, judges complained that the city’s in-house lawyers had fumbled key casework.
    Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Nothing erodes confidence faster than fumbling for lockboxes, waiting on unresponsive listing agents, or showing a space that clearly doesn’t fit.
    Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Amnesty International has said that the use of the death penalty under the new measure could violate the right to life and the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, as enshrined in international law.
    Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Pearl, now 42, pleaded guilty to murder in February 2018 and admitted to a special circumstance allegation of murder involving torture.
    Rick Montanez, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The slaying stemmed from an ongoing gang dispute, police said at the time of Hamilton’s arrest.
    Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
  • After freeing a man who was convicted in a pizza delivery driver’s slaying, the state’s Parole Board has rejected releasing an accomplice who fatally stabbed the food courier.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The targeting of the three journalists comes two days after the killing of the photojournalist/camera operated Hussain Hamood, and nine days following the killing of Al-Manar head of programming Mohammed Sherri, who was slain in an Israeli strike in central Beirut.
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 28 Mar. 2026
  • During the national anthem Friday, the Iranian team honored the memory of the slain children by placing small pink and purple school backpacks in front of them.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Pitchers and batters are both worse than a coin-flip at issuing challenges – blown calls in a matter of seconds.
    Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Murder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murder. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on murder

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster