Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense murders, present participle murdering, past tense, past participle murdered
1. variable noun
Murder is the deliberate and illegal killing of a person.
The three accused, aged between 19 and 20, are charged with attempted murder.
She refused to testify, unless the murder charge against her was dropped.
...brutal murders.
kill
Synonyms: killing, homicide, massacre, assassination More Synonyms of murder
2. verb
To murder someone means to commit the crime of killing them deliberately.
...a thriller about two men who murder a third to see if they can get away with it. [VERB noun]
...the body of a murdered religious and political leader. [VERB-ed]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: kill, massacre, slaughter, assassinate More Synonyms of murder
3.
See get away with murder
4.
See blue murder
More Synonyms of murder
murder in British English
(ˈmɜːdə)
noun
1.
the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another
Compare manslaughter, homicide
2. informal
something dangerous, difficult, or unpleasant
driving around London is murder
3. cry blue murder
4. get away with murder
verb(mainly tr)
5. (also intr)
to kill (someone) unlawfully with premeditation or during the commission of a crime
6.
to kill brutally
7. informal
to destroy; ruin
he murdered her chances of happiness
8. informal
to defeat completely; beat decisively
the home team murdered their opponents
Also (archaic or dialect): murther
Derived forms
murderer (ˈmurderer)
noun
murderess (ˈmurderess)
feminine noun
Word origin
Old English morthor; related to Old English morth, Old Norse morth, Latin mors death; compare French meurtre
murder in American English
(ˈmɜrdər)
noun
1.
the unlawful and malicious or premeditated killing of one human being by another; also, any killing done while committing some other felony, as rape or robbery
2. US, Informal
something very hard, unsafe, or disagreeable to do or deal with
verb transitive
3.
to kill (a person) unlawfully and with malice
4.
to kill inhumanly or barbarously, as in warfare
5.
to spoil, mar, etc., as in performance
the song was murdered by the singer
verb intransitive
6.
to commit murder
SIMILAR WORDS: kill
Idioms:
get away with murder
murder will out
Word origin
ME murthir, mordre < OE & OFr: OE morthor, akin to ON morth, Goth maurthr; OFr mordre < Frank *morthr: all ult. < IE *mṛtóm < base *mer- > mortal
More idioms containing
murder
get away with murder
scream blue murder
Examples of 'murder' in a sentence
murder
She admits unlawful wounding but denies attempted murder.
The Sun (2016)
The woman faces an attempted murder charge.
The Sun (2017)
He tried to pin the blame for the murder on another victim.
The Sun (2016)
We would walk across the harsh crags of the northern mountains together, and talk about murder.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But cops didn't launch a murder probe for three days as they awaited the results of a post mortem.
The Sun (2016)
And for those who like crime history on the gruesome side, there's also a look at body parts and murder weapons.
The Sun (2016)
Three were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and two on suspicion of conspiracy to rob.
The Sun (2015)
She is also suspected of trying to murder three other residents who survived.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The suspect has been charged with murder.
The Sun (2013)
It was like telling me to go and commit murder.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Within seconds all the usual pressure groups were screaming blue murder.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Three people were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The Sun (2012)
In the final report of the series, we learn all about the perfect murder.
The Sun (2007)
Meanwhile, the detectives have another murder to solve.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The strangers claim that they had paid for their cattle that morning and don't know anything about a murder.
Christianity Today (2000)
But he admits that just because he is not screaming claret and blue murder at his blundering players does not mean he is not furious inside.
The Sun (2015)
Two men were arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of the man in his 40swas discovered in a flat on Tuesday.
The Sun (2013)
Quotations
Thou shalt not killBible: Exodus
Murder will outGeoffrey ChaucerThe Nun's Priest's Tale
murder most foulWilliam ShakespeareHamlet
In other languages
murder
British English: murder /ˈmɜːdə/ NOUN
Murder is the crime of deliberately killing a person.
He was jailed for life after being found guilty of murder.
American English: murder
Arabic: قَتْلٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: assassinato
Chinese: 谋杀
Croatian: ubojstvo
Czech: vražda
Danish: mord
Dutch: moord
European Spanish: asesinato
Finnish: murha
French: meurtre
German: Mord
Greek: φόνος
Italian: omicidio
Japanese: 殺人
Korean: 살인
Norwegian: mord
Polish: morderstwo
European Portuguese: assassinato
Romanian: crimă
Russian: убийство
Latin American Spanish: asesinato
Swedish: mord
Thai: การฆาตกรรม
Turkish: cinayet
Ukrainian: вбивство
Vietnamese: tội giết người
British English: murder /ˈmɜːdə/ VERB
To murder someone means to commit the crime of killing them deliberately.
...a movie about a woman who murders her husband.
American English: murder
Arabic: يَقْتِلُ
Brazilian Portuguese: assassinar
Chinese: 谋杀
Croatian: ubiti
Czech: zavraždit
Danish: myrde
Dutch: vermoorden
European Spanish: asesinar
Finnish: murhata
French: assassiner
German: ermorden
Greek: δολοφονώ
Italian: uccidere
Japanese: 殺害する
Korean: 살인하다
Norwegian: myrde
Polish: zamordować
European Portuguese: assassinar
Romanian: a ucide
Russian: убивать
Latin American Spanish: asesinar
Swedish: mörda
Thai: ฆาตกรรม
Turkish: katletmek
Ukrainian: вбивати
Vietnamese: giết người
Chinese translation of 'murder'
murder
(ˈməːdəʳ)
n(c/u)
(= killing) 谋(謀)杀(殺) (móushā) (个(個), gè)
vt
(= kill) 谋(謀)杀(殺) (móushā)
(= spoil)[piece of music, language]糟蹋 (zāota)
to get away with murder (inf) 为(為)所欲为(為) (wéi suǒ yù wéi)
the traffic was murder! (inf) 交通真要命！ (jiāotōng zhēn yàomìng!)
I could murder him!我真该(該)杀(殺)了他！ (wǒ zhēn gāi shāle tā!)
see usage note
kill
All related terms of 'murder'
I could murder him!
我真该(該)杀(殺)了他！ wǒ zhēn gāi shāle tā!
the traffic was murder!
( inf ) 交通真要命！ jiāotōng zhēn yàomìng!
to get away with murder
( inf ) 为(為)所欲为(為) wéi suǒ yù wéi
guilty of murder/manslaughter
谋(謀)杀(殺)/误(誤)杀(殺)罪 móushā/wùshā zuì
murder cannot be ruled out
不排除他杀(殺)的可能性 bù páichú tāshā de kěnéngxìng
to be indicted for murder
被告谋(謀)杀(殺)罪 bèi gào móushā zuì
to be arrested on suspicion of murder
因谋(謀)杀(殺)嫌疑被逮捕 yīn móushā xiányí bèi dàibǔ
1 (noun)
Definition
the unlawful intentional killing of one human being by another
The three accused are charged with attempted murder.
Synonyms
killing
This is a brutal killing.
homicide
The police arrived at the scene of the homicide.
massacre
She lost her mother in the massacre.
assassination
There have been six assassinations of senior politicians.
slaying
a trail of motiveless slayings
bloodshed
an end to bloodshed and to the economic chaos
carnage
Their peaceful protest ended in carnage.
butchery
War is simply a legalised form of butchery.
2 (noun)
Definition
something dangerous, difficult, or unpleasant
(informal)
I've taken three aspirins, but this headache's still absolute murder.
Synonyms
agony
We accepted there would be agony for the remaining children.
misery
All that money brought nothing but misery.
hell (informal)
the hell of grief and lost love
1 (verb)
Definition
to kill someone intentionally and unlawfully
a thriller about two men who murder a third
Synonyms
kill
More than 200 people were killed in the disaster.
massacre
Troops indiscriminately massacred the defenceless population.
slaughter
They were slaughtered by invaders.
assassinate
a plot to assassinate the President
hit (slang)
destroy
The horse had to be destroyed.
waste (informal)
do in (informal)
eliminate (slang)
The colonel announced that the opposition had been eliminated.
take out (slang)
terminate (slang)
butcher
Our people are being butchered in their own homes.
dispatch
They may catch him and dispatch him immediately.
slay
Two Australian tourists were slain.
blow away (slang, mainly US)
bump off (slang)
rub out (US, slang)
take the life of
do to death
murk (slang)
2 (verb)
Definition
to ruin a piece of music or drama by performing it very badly
She murdered the song.
Synonyms
ruin
The original decor was all ruined during renovation.
destroy
The building was completely destroyed.
mar
The scar didn't mar his self-confidence, he rather liked it.
spoil
It is important not to let mistakes spoil your life.
butcher
I am not in Cannes because they butchered my film.
mangle
After being crushed, the car was mangled beyond all recognition.
3 (verb)
Definition
to beat decisively
(informal)
The front row murdered the Italians in the scrums.
Synonyms
beat decisively
thrash
They thrashed their opponents 5-0.
stuff (slang)
cream (slang, mainly US)
tank (slang)
hammer (informal)
He hammered the young left-hander in four straight sets.
slaughter
He slaughtered his opponent in three sets.
lick (informal)
He might be able to lick us all in a fair fight.
wipe the floor with (informal)
make mincemeat of (informal)
blow someone out of the water (slang)
drub
defeat someone utterly
murk (slang)
related words
related phobiahomicidomania
Quotations
Thou shalt not kill [Bible: Exodus]Murder will out [Geoffrey Chaucer – The Nun's Priest's Tale]murder most foul [William Shakespeare – Hamlet]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of assassinate
Definition
to murder (a prominent person)
a plot to assassinate the President
Synonyms
murder,
kill,
eliminate (slang),
take out (slang),
terminate,
hit (slang),
slay,
blow away (slang, US),
liquidate
in the sense of assassination
There have been six assassinations of senior politicians.
Synonyms
murder,
killing,
slaughter,
purge,
hit (slang),
removal,
elimination (slang),
slaying,
homicide,
liquidation
in the sense of bloodshed
Definition
slaughter
an end to bloodshed and to the economic chaos
Synonyms
killing,
murder,
massacre,
slaughter,
slaying,
carnage,
butchery,
blood-letting,
blood bath
Synonyms of 'murder'
murder
Explore 'murder' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of butcher
Definition
to kill (people) at random or brutally
Our people are being butchered in their own homes.
Synonyms
kill,
slaughter,
massacre,
destroy,
cut down,
assassinate,
slay (archaic, literary),
liquidate,
exterminate,
put to the sword
in the sense of butcher
Definition
to make a mess of
I am not in Cannes because they butchered my film.
Synonyms
mess up,
destroy,
ruin,
wreck,
spoil,
mutilate,
botch,
bodge (informal)
in the sense of butchery
Definition
senseless slaughter
War is simply a legalised form of butchery.
Synonyms
slaughter,
killing,
murder,
massacre,
bloodshed,
carnage,
mass murder,
blood-letting,
blood bath
in the sense of carnage
Definition
extensive slaughter of people
Their peaceful protest ended in carnage.
Synonyms
slaughter,
murder,
massacre,
holocaust,
havoc,
bloodshed,
shambles,
mass murder,
butchery,
blood bath
in the sense of destroy
Definition
to kill (an animal)
The horse had to be destroyed.
Synonyms
slaughter,
kill,
put down,
exterminate,
put to sleep
in the sense of destroy
Definition
to ruin
The building was completely destroyed.
Synonyms
ruin,
smash,
crush,
waste,
devastate,
break down,
wreck,
shatter,
gut,
wipe out,
dispatch,
dismantle,
demolish,
trash (slang),
total (slang),
ravage,
slay (archaic, literary),
eradicate,
torpedo,
extinguish,
desolate,
annihilate,
put paid to,
raze,
blow to bits,
extirpate (archaic),
blow sky-high
in the sense of dispatch
Definition
to murder
They may catch him and dispatch him immediately.
Synonyms
kill,
murder,
destroy,
do in (slang),
eliminate (slang),
take out (slang),
execute,
butcher,
slaughter,
assassinate,
slay (archaic, literary),
finish off,
put an end to,
do away with,
blow away (slang, US),
liquidate,
annihilate,
exterminate,
take (someone's) life,
bump off (slang)
in the sense of drub
Synonyms
defeat,
best,
beat,
stuff (slang),
master,
worst,
tank (slang),
overcome,
hammer (informal),
lick (informal),
undo,
rout,
trounce,
outclass,
vanquish (literary),
run rings around (informal),
wipe the floor with (informal),
blow out of the water (slang)
in the sense of eliminate
Definition
to murder in cold blood
The colonel announced that the opposition had been eliminated.
Synonyms
murder,
kill,
do in (slang),
take out (slang),
terminate,
slay,
blow away (slang, US),
liquidate,
annihilate,
exterminate,
bump off (slang),
rub out (US, slang),
waste (informal)
in the sense of hammer
Definition
to defeat heavily
He hammered the young left-hander in four straight sets.
Synonyms
defeat,
beat,
thrash,
stuff (slang),
master,
worst,
tank (slang),
lick (informal),
trounce,
clobber (slang),
run rings around (informal),
wipe the floor with (informal),
blow out of the water (slang),
drub
Additional synonyms
in the sense of hell
Definition
a situation that causes suffering or extreme difficulty
the hell of grief and lost love
Synonyms
torment,
suffering,
agony,
trial,
nightmare,
misery,
ordeal,
anguish,
affliction,
martyrdom,
wretchedness
in the sense of homicide
Definition
the act of killing someone
The police arrived at the scene of the homicide.
Synonyms
murder,
killing,
manslaughter,
slaying,
bloodshed
in the sense of lick
Definition
to defeat
He might be able to lick us all in a fair fight.
Synonyms
beat,
defeat,
overcome,
best,
top,
stuff (slang),
tank (slang),
undo,
rout,
excel,
surpass,
outstrip,
outdo,
trounce,
clobber (slang),
vanquish,
run rings around (informal),
wipe the floor with (informal),
blow out of the water (slang)
in the sense of mangle
Definition
to destroy or damage by crushing and twisting
After being crushed, the car was mangled beyond all recognition.
Synonyms
crush,
mutilate,
maim,
deform,
cut,
total (slang),
tear,
destroy,
ruin,
mar,
rend,
wreck,
spoil,
butcher,
cripple,
hack,
distort,
trash (slang),
maul,
disfigure,
lacerate,
mangulate (Australian, slang)
in the sense of mar
Definition
to spoil or be the one bad feature of
The scar didn't mar his self-confidence, he rather liked it.
Synonyms
ruin,
injure,
spoil,
scar,
flaw,
impair,
mutilate,
detract from,
maim,
deform,
blemish,
mangle,
disfigure,
deface
in the sense of massacre
Definition
the wanton or savage killing of large numbers of people
She lost her mother in the massacre.
Synonyms
slaughter,
killing,
murder,
holocaust,
carnage,
extermination,
annihilation,
butchery,
mass slaughter,
blood bath
in the sense of massacre
Definition
to kill people indiscriminately in large numbers
Troops indiscriminately massacred the defenceless population.
Synonyms
slaughter,
kill,
murder,
butcher,
take out (slang),
wipe out,
slay (archaic, literary),
blow away (slang, US),
annihilate,
exterminate,
mow down,
cut to pieces
in the sense of misery
Definition
intense unhappiness or suffering
All that money brought nothing but misery.
Synonyms
unhappiness,
distress,
despair,
grief,
suffering,
depression,
torture,
agony,
gloom,
sadness,
discomfort,
torment,
hardship,
sorrow,
woe,
anguish,
melancholy,
desolation,
wretchedness
in the sense of slaughter
Definition
to kill brutally
They were slaughtered by invaders.
Synonyms
kill (informal),
murder,
massacre,
destroy,
do in (slang),
execute,
dispatch,
assassinate,
blow away (slang, US),
annihilate,
bump off (slang)
in the sense of slaughter
Definition
(in sport) to defeat easily
He slaughtered his opponent in three sets.
Synonyms
defeat,
thrash,
vanquish (literary),
stuff (slang),
tank (slang),
hammer (informal),
crush,
overwhelm,
lick (informal),
undo,
rout,
trounce,
wipe the floor with (informal),
blow out of the water (slang)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of slay
Definition
to kill, esp. violently
Two Australian tourists were slain.
Synonyms
murder,
kill,
assassinate,
do in (slang),
eliminate,
massacre,
slaughter,
do away with,
exterminate,
mow down,
rub out (US, slang)
in the sense of slaying
a trail of motiveless slayings
Synonyms
killing,
murder,
massacre,
assassination,
manslaughter,
homicide,
bloodshed,
carnage,
butchery
in the sense of spoil
Definition
to make (something) less valuable, beautiful, or useful
It is important not to let mistakes spoil your life.