Cette page dans ta langue

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

B1 Verb (past tense/past participle) or Adjective #6 le plus courant 9 min de lecture

murdered

Top 6

At the A1 level, the word 'murdered' is quite advanced. Most beginners will first learn the word 'killed'. 'Murdered' means that a bad person intentionally hurt and ended the life of another person. It is a very sad and serious word. You might see it in simple stories or news headlines. For example, 'The man was murdered.' It is important to know that this is not an accident. An accident is when something happens by mistake. A murder is not a mistake. You should use this word carefully because it is very strong. If you are talking about a movie, you can say 'The king was murdered'. If you are talking about a bug you stepped on, do not use 'murdered'. Use 'killed' instead.

For A2 learners, 'murdered' is a word you will encounter in simple mystery books or news reports. It is the past tense of 'murder'. It means someone was killed on purpose by another person. You will often see it in the passive voice: 'He was murdered.' This means we are talking about the person who died, not the person who did the crime. You might also hear it in a funny way, like 'I'm so hungry, I could murder a burger!' This doesn't mean you want to kill the burger; it just means you really want to eat it. However, usually, the word is very serious. Remember the spelling: M-U-R-D-E-R-E-D.

At the B1 level, you should understand the legal distinction that 'murdered' implies. It is not just 'killed'; it is an unlawful killing with 'malice aforethought'. This means the killer planned it or intended to do it. You will see this word used as an adjective, like 'the murdered victim', and as a verb. You should also be aware of its metaphorical uses. For example, 'The singer murdered that song' means they sang it very badly. In B1 writing, you can use 'murdered' to describe historical events or plots in books. Be careful not to confuse it with 'manslaughter', which is a different legal term for killing someone without intending to.

B2 learners should be comfortable using 'murdered' in various registers. In formal contexts, it is used to describe specific criminal acts. In journalism, it is a powerful word that carries emotional weight. You should also understand the difference between 'murdered' and 'assassinated' (for famous people) or 'executed' (legal killing). You might encounter the word in complex sentence structures, such as 'Having been murdered in cold blood, the victim left behind a trail of clues.' You should also recognize the word in idiomatic expressions and understand that it is a regular verb. Pay attention to the collocations like 'brutally murdered' or 'found murdered'.

At the C1 level, you should appreciate the nuances of 'murdered' in literature and legal discourse. It is often used to explore themes of justice, morality, and human nature. You should be able to use it precisely, distinguishing it from 'homicide' (the technical term) or 'slaughter' (implying brutality). You might use it in a more abstract sense, such as 'the murdered hopes of a generation', to describe something that was destroyed intentionally. Your understanding of the word should include its historical evolution and its impact on the reader. You should also be able to identify when the word is being used hyperbolically for rhetorical effect in speeches or essays.

For C2 proficiency, 'murdered' is a word whose weight you fully command. You understand its potential for irony, its legal precision, and its evocative power in high-level prose. You can use it to discuss complex ethical dilemmas or to analyze the stylistic choices of an author. You are aware of its etymological roots and how it differs from similar terms in other languages. In your own writing, you use 'murdered' sparingly and effectively, knowing that its impact is greatest when used with absolute accuracy. You can also navigate the most informal slang uses without losing sight of the word's primary, grave meaning.

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

murdered en 30 secondes

Murdered describes the intentional and illegal killing of a human being by another person, serving as the past tense of the verb 'murder'.
It is a heavy, serious word used in legal, news, and fictional contexts to identify victims of intentional homicide and violent crimes.
Informally, the word can describe ruining something, such as a performance, or having an intense desire for something, like food or drink.
The word is distinct from 'killed' because it requires intent and lack of legal justification, making it a precise term for criminal acts.

The word murdered is primarily the past tense and past participle form of the verb 'murder'. It describes the specific action of one human being killing another human being with malice aforethought, meaning the act was intentional, planned, and illegal. Unlike the broader term 'killed', which can apply to accidents, self-defense, or animals, 'murdered' carries a heavy legal and moral weight. When used as an adjective, it identifies the victim of such a crime, such as in the phrase 'the murdered heir'.

Legal Context: In a courtroom, saying someone was murdered implies that the prosecution has proven intent and lack of justification. It is a precise term that excludes manslaughter or accidental death.

The investigation concluded that the wealthy businessman was murdered for his inheritance.

Beyond the literal sense, the word is frequently used in hyperbolic or informal contexts. For instance, if a musician performs a song very poorly, a critic might say they 'murdered' the piece. Similarly, if someone is extremely hungry and eats a large meal quickly, they might say they 'murdered that pizza'. These uses are metaphorical and rely on the idea of complete destruction or total consumption.

Historical Usage: History books are filled with accounts of kings and queens who were murdered by rivals to seize power, often using the term to emphasize the treachery involved.

Julius Caesar was murdered by a group of senators on the Ides of March.

In literature and true crime media, 'murdered' serves as a hook. It sets a tone of mystery and gravity. When a character is introduced as 'the murdered woman', the entire narrative focus shifts toward solving the crime and seeking justice. This word is rarely used lightly because of its association with the ultimate violation of human rights.

Emotional Weight: The word evokes strong emotions of fear, anger, and sadness, making it a powerful tool for journalists and storytellers.

The community mourned the loss of the young teacher who was senselessly murdered.

He felt as though his reputation had been murdered by the false accusations.

Using the word murdered correctly requires an understanding of both its grammatical function and its semantic constraints. As a past tense verb, it follows the subject: 'The assailant murdered the guard.' However, it is most frequently encountered in the passive voice, where the focus is on the victim: 'The guard was murdered.' This shift in focus is common in news reporting and detective fiction where the perpetrator might still be unknown.

Passive Voice Structure: [Subject/Victim] + [to be verb] + murdered + [optional: by agent]. Example: 'The king was murdered by his own brother.'

Thousands of innocent people were murdered during the conflict.

When functioning as an adjective, 'murdered' precedes the noun it modifies. This usage is common in titles or when describing a scene after the event has occurred. For example, 'The murdered man's belongings were scattered across the floor.' Here, 'murdered' provides essential information about the state of the man being discussed, immediately establishing a criminal context.

Adjectival Use: Used before a noun to describe a victim. Example: 'The police are still trying to identify the murdered hiker.'

The murdered diplomat's family called for a full international inquiry.

In metaphorical contexts, the word often appears in the active voice to emphasize the 'destruction' of an abstract concept. 'The comedian murdered the joke by forgetting the punchline.' In this sentence, 'murdered' suggests that the joke was ruined so completely that it 'died' in the eyes of the audience. This usage is informal and should be avoided in serious academic or professional writing unless you are quoting someone.

Metaphorical Use: To ruin or perform something very badly. Example: 'He absolutely murdered that karaoke version of Bohemian Rhapsody.'

The director was accused of having murdered the original book's plot in his film adaptation.

She felt like she had murdered her chances of getting the job after that terrible interview.

The word murdered is a staple of news broadcasts, particularly in the 'breaking news' or 'crime' segments. Journalists use it to report on homicides where the police have confirmed foul play. You will hear it in phrases like 'found murdered in her home' or 'brutally murdered'. Because of its legal implications, news outlets are often careful to use 'killed' or 'found dead' until a suspect is charged or the cause of death is officially ruled as murder by a coroner.

True Crime Podcasts: This genre relies heavily on the word to describe the central events of their episodes, often exploring the 'why' and 'how' someone was murdered.

In tonight's episode, we discuss the cold case of a woman who was murdered in 1984.

In the world of entertainment, specifically mystery novels and police procedural TV shows (like *CSI* or *Law & Order*), 'murdered' is the catalyst for the plot. The phrase 'Who murdered [Character Name]?' is a classic trope. In these contexts, the word is used to signal to the audience that a puzzle needs to be solved. It creates a specific type of engagement where the viewer becomes a 'detective' alongside the characters.

History and Documentaries: Documentaries about political assassinations or historical purges use 'murdered' to describe the systematic or targeted killing of individuals.

The documentary explores the lives of those murdered during the regime's rise to power.

Socially, you might hear 'murdered' used in slang among younger generations or in casual conversation to mean 'destroyed' or 'beaten badly'. For example, 'We got murdered in that game' means the speaker's team lost by a very large margin. While common, it's important to be sensitive to the context, as using such a heavy word for a game can sometimes be seen as trivializing actual violence.

Political Rhetoric: Politicians might use the word to describe the 'murder' of an industry or a policy to evoke a sense of permanent, malicious destruction.

The senator claimed that the new tax law murdered small businesses in his state.

The critic wrote that the actor murdered the role with his wooden performance.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is using murdered when they actually mean 'killed'. While all murders are killings, not all killings are murders. For example, if someone dies in a car accident, they were 'killed', but they were not 'murdered' unless the driver intended to kill them. Using 'murdered' in the case of an accident is factually and legally incorrect and can cause significant confusion or offense.

Intent vs. Accident: Incorrect: 'He was murdered in a lightning strike.' Correct: 'He was killed in a lightning strike.' (Lightning cannot have intent).

Many people mistakenly say a soldier was murdered in battle, but the correct term is usually 'killed in action'.

Another common error involves the passive voice construction. Learners sometimes forget the 'to be' verb, saying 'He murdered' when they mean 'He was murdered'. This completely changes the meaning: 'He murdered' makes the person the killer, while 'He was murdered' makes them the victim. This is a critical distinction in both legal and everyday contexts.

Confusion with 'Died': 'Died' is an intransitive verb (it happens to the person), while 'murdered' is the passive form of a transitive verb (someone did it to them).

You cannot say 'He murdered of old age'; you must say 'He died of old age'.

Learners also struggle with the metaphorical use of 'murdered'. Sometimes they use it in formal contexts where it is inappropriate. For example, in a business report, saying 'The competition murdered our sales' is too dramatic and informal. A better choice would be 'The competition significantly impacted our sales' or 'decimated our sales'. Reserve the metaphorical 'murdered' for casual conversations with friends.

Spelling Mistakes: Common misspellings include 'murdred' or 'murderd'. Remember the 'er' before the 'ed'.

The student wrote that the character was 'murdred', which is a common spelling error.

Confusing 'murdered' with 'slaughtered'—the latter implies a more violent or mass-scale killing.

While murdered is a very specific term, several other words share its semantic space, each with unique nuances. Understanding these differences is key to precise communication. 'Killed' is the most common alternative, but it is much broader. 'Assassinated' is a specialized term used when the victim is a prominent public figure and the motive is political or ideological. You wouldn't say a common thief 'assassinated' a homeowner; they 'murdered' them.

Assassinated vs. Murdered: Assassination is a subset of murder. It specifically targets leaders. Example: 'Abraham Lincoln was assassinated,' not just 'murdered'.

The spy was assassinated in a quiet European capital.

'Slaughtered' and 'massacred' are used when the killing is particularly brutal or involves many people at once. These words evoke images of great violence and helplessness. 'Executed' is another related term, but it usually implies a killing that is carried out by an authority, often as a legal punishment, though it can also be used by criminal organizations to describe a cold-blooded, systematic killing.

Executed vs. Murdered: Execution implies a process or a formal decision. Murder is an illegal, personal act. Example: 'The prisoner was executed by the state.'

The rebels slaughtered the villagers during the night raid.

In metaphorical contexts, alternatives like 'ruined', 'spoiled', or 'botched' are often better than 'murdered'. If you say 'He botched the presentation', it sounds more professional than 'He murdered the presentation'. However, if you want to emphasize the total failure of something, 'annihilated' or 'destroyed' are strong alternatives that carry less baggage than 'murdered'.

Slain vs. Murdered: 'Slain' is the past participle of 'slay'. It is often used in news headlines for its brevity and dramatic effect.

The slain officer was honored with a full police funeral.

The team was decimated in the finals, losing by fifty points.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

Neutre

Informel

Child friendly

Argot

Le savais-tu ?

In ancient Germanic law, 'murder' specifically meant a killing that was hidden. If you killed someone openly, it was a different, often less severe, crime.

Guide de prononciation

UK /ˈmɜː.dəd/

US /ˈmɝː.dɚd/

The stress is on the first syllable: MUR-dered.

Rime avec

herded worded girded birded surded curded bearded (near rhyme) standard (near rhyme)

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the 'e' in 'ered' as a full vowel (it should be a schwa or silent).
Forgetting the final 'd' sound.
Over-emphasizing the second syllable.
Mispronouncing the 'ur' as 'or'.
Confusing the pronunciation with 'muttered'.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 3/5

Common in news and fiction, easy to recognize but requires context for nuance.

Écriture 4/5

Requires careful use of passive voice and understanding of legal vs. casual context.

Expression orale 3/5

Pronunciation is straightforward, but the word is socially sensitive.

Écoute 2/5

Very distinct sound, usually easy to pick out in conversation.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

kill dead die bad person

Apprends ensuite

homicide manslaughter assassination premeditated culpable

Avancé

malice aforethought extradition indictment forensics pathology

Grammaire à connaître

Passive Voice with 'to be'

The victim was murdered.

Past Participle as Adjective

The murdered man lay on the floor.

Irregular vs Regular Verbs

Murder is regular (murdered), unlike slay (slain).

Reporting Verbs

The witness alleged that the suspect murdered the guard.

Agentive 'by' phrase

He was murdered by an unknown assailant.

Exemples par niveau

The bad man murdered the king.

Le méchant homme a assassiné le roi.

Subject + Verb (past tense) + Object.

He was murdered in the story.

Il a été tué dans l'histoire.

Passive voice: was + murdered.

Who murdered the lady?

Qui a tué la dame ?

Question form with 'Who'.

The police found the murdered man.

La police a trouvé l'homme assassiné.

'Murdered' used as an adjective.

They murdered him for money.

Ils l'ont tué pour de l'argent.

Past tense verb with a reason (for money).

It is sad that he was murdered.

C'est triste qu'il ait été tué.

Expressing emotion about a past event.

She was murdered last night.

Elle a été tuée la nuit dernière.

Time expression 'last night'.

The dog was not murdered; it was an accident.

Le chien n'a pas été tué ; c'était un accident.

Negative passive voice.

The detective said the woman was murdered.

Le détective a dit que la femme avait été assassinée.

Reported speech.

I read about a man who was murdered in London.

J'ai lu l'histoire d'un homme qui a été tué à Londres.

Relative clause 'who was murdered'.

They think he was murdered by his friend.

Ils pensent qu'il a été tué par son ami.

Passive voice with 'by' agent.

The movie is about a murdered scientist.

Le film parle d'un scientifique assassiné.

Adjective modifying 'scientist'.

She cried because her brother was murdered.

Elle a pleuré parce que son frère a été tué.

Conjunction 'because' showing cause.

No one knows why he was murdered.

Personne ne sait pourquoi il a été tué.

Indirect question.

The newspaper says the mayor was murdered.

Le journal dit que le maire a été assassiné.

Present tense reporting past event.

I could murder a pizza right now!

Je mangerais bien une pizza là tout de suite !

Informal idiom meaning 'really want'.

The victim was murdered with a sharp object.

La victime a été assassinée avec un objet tranchant.

Passive voice with instrument (with...).

He was murdered while he was sleeping.

Il a été tué pendant qu'il dormait.

Past continuous used with past simple passive.

The police believe the businessman was murdered for his secrets.

La police pense que l'homme d'affaires a été tué pour ses secrets.

Complex sentence with belief verb.

She felt as if her career had been murdered by the scandal.

Elle avait l'impression que sa carrière avait été brisée par le scandale.

Metaphorical use in the past perfect passive.

The murdered man's identity remains a mystery.

L'identité de l'homme assassiné reste un mystère.

Possessive form with adjective.

If he hadn't left the house, he wouldn't have been murdered.

S'il n'était pas sorti de la maison, il n'aurait pas été tué.

Third conditional.

The suspect admitted that he had murdered the guard.

Le suspect a avoué qu'il avait tué le garde.

Past perfect in reported speech.

He absolutely murdered that song at the karaoke bar.

Il a complètement massacré cette chanson au karaoké.

Informal metaphorical use.

The witness claimed to have seen the moment the victim was murdered.

Le témoin a prétendu avoir vu le moment où la victime a été assassinée.

Perfect infinitive 'to have seen'.

It was later revealed that the spy had been murdered by a double agent.

Il a été révélé plus tard que l'espion avait été assassiné par un agent double.

It-clause with passive voice.

The community was shocked to learn that the priest had been murdered.

La communauté a été choquée d'apprendre que le prêtre avait été assassiné.

Adjective + infinitive construction.

The murdered diplomat's death sparked an international crisis.

La mort du diplomate assassiné a déclenché une crise internationale.

Adjective modifying a noun phrase.

Despite the evidence, he denied having murdered his rival.

Malgré les preuves, il a nié avoir tué son rival.

Gerund after 'denied'.

The novel explores the psychological state of a man who has just murdered someone.

Le roman explore l'état psychologique d'un homme qui vient de tuer quelqu'un.

Present perfect in a relative clause.

She was murdered in cold blood, without any provocation.

Elle a été assassinée de sang-froid, sans aucune provocation.

Idiomatic phrase 'in cold blood'.

The critic's harsh review effectively murdered the play's chances of success.

La critique acerbe a effectivement anéanti les chances de succès de la pièce.

Metaphorical use in a formal context.

The autopsy confirmed that the victim had been murdered several hours before being found.

L'autopsie a confirmé que la victime avait été assassinée plusieurs heures avant d'être retrouvée.

Past perfect passive with time duration.

The documentary poignantly depicts the lives of those murdered during the ethnic cleansing.

Le documentaire dépeint de manière poignante la vie de ceux qui ont été assassinés pendant le nettoyage ethnique.

Relative clause with 'those'.

He was murdered for a cause he didn't even fully understand.

Il a été tué pour une cause qu'il ne comprenait même pas complètement.

Passive voice with complex prepositional phrase.

The murdered woman's ghost was said to haunt the old mansion.

On disait que le fantôme de la femme assassinée hantait le vieux manoir.

Passive reporting verb 'was said to'.

The prosecutor argued that the defendant had murdered the victim with premeditation.

Le procureur a soutenu que le prévenu avait assassiné la victime avec préméditation.

Legal terminology 'with premeditation'.

To say he 'murdered' the performance is an understatement; he destroyed it.

Dire qu'il a 'massacré' la performance est un euphémisme ; il l'a détruite.

Infinitive as subject.

The king was murdered by his own guards, the very people sworn to protect him.

Le roi a été assassiné par ses propres gardes, les personnes mêmes qui avaient juré de le protéger.

Appositive phrase for emphasis.

The investigation into the murdered activists remains open after thirty years.

L'enquête sur les militants assassinés reste ouverte après trente ans.

Prepositional phrase modifying 'investigation'.

The sheer brutality with which the family was murdered sent shockwaves through the nation.

La brutalité pure avec laquelle la famille a été assassinée a provoqué une onde de choc dans tout le pays.

Relative clause with 'with which'.

Historians debate whether the prince was murdered or died of natural causes.

Les historiens débattent pour savoir si le prince a été assassiné ou s'il est mort de causes naturelles.

Whether... or... construction.

The film is a visceral exploration of the grief experienced by the families of the murdered.

Le film est une exploration viscérale du deuil vécu par les familles des personnes assassinées.

Substantive use of the adjective 'the murdered'.

He felt that his integrity had been murdered on the altar of political expediency.

Il sentait que son intégrité avait été sacrifiée sur l'autel de l'opportunisme politique.

Highly metaphorical and literary usage.

The suspect's alibi was murdered by the sudden appearance of CCTV footage.

L'alibi du suspect a été anéanti par l'apparition soudaine d'images de vidéosurveillance.

Metaphorical use meaning 'to disprove completely'.

The poem laments the murdered innocence of a childhood spent in a war zone.

Le poème déplore l'innocence assassinée d'une enfance passée dans une zone de guerre.

Abstract noun modified by 'murdered'.

The legal definition of being 'murdered' requires the presence of 'malice aforethought'.

La définition légale d'être 'assassiné' exige la présence de 'malice préméditée'.

Gerund phrase as subject.

The way she murdered the French language was almost impressive in its thoroughness.

La façon dont elle a massacré la langue française était presque impressionnante par sa minutie.

Ironical usage.

Collocations courantes

brutally murdered

found murdered

murdered in cold blood

senselessly murdered

murdered for money

murdered by a stranger

coldly murdered

murdered in his sleep

allegedly murdered

murdered body

Phrases Courantes

murdered out

could murder a...

murdered the dance floor

murdered the English language

murdered by the critics

murdered his chances

get murdered in the polls

murdered with kindness

murdered a joke

murdered the competition

Souvent confondu avec

murdered vs killed

Killed is general; murdered requires intent and is illegal.

murdered vs died

Died is natural or accidental; murdered is an act by another person.

murdered vs manslaughter

Manslaughter is killing without intent; murdered is killing with intent.

Expressions idiomatiques

"in cold blood"

To kill someone without emotion or provocation, in a calculated way.

The innocent bystanders were murdered in cold blood.

Neutral

"murder will out"

A proverb suggesting that a crime, especially murder, cannot be hidden forever.

He thought he got away with it, but as they say, murder will out.

Literary

"get away with murder"

To do something bad or wrong without being punished for it.

The youngest child is so cute he can get away with murder.

Informal

"scream blue murder"

To shout or complain very loudly and persistently.

The baby started screaming blue murder as soon as I put him down.

Informal

"murder on the ears"

Something that is very unpleasant or painful to listen to.

That violin practice is absolute murder on the ears.

Informal

"a murder of crows"

The collective noun for a group of crows.

A murder of crows gathered in the old oak tree.

Neutral

"to murder sleep"

To prevent someone from sleeping or to destroy the peace of sleep (from Macbeth).

The loud construction outside has truly murdered my sleep.

Literary

"look like murder"

To look very angry or threatening.

When I told him the news, his face looked like murder.

Informal

"murder to do something"

Something that is extremely difficult or unpleasant to perform.

Driving in this snow is absolute murder.

Informal

"murdered the clock"

In sports, to use up the remaining time to ensure a victory.

The team murdered the clock with short passes in the final minutes.

Informal

Facile à confondre

murdered vs muttered

Similar sound and spelling.

Muttered means to speak quietly; murdered means to kill someone.

He muttered an apology, but he was accused of having murdered the guard.

murdered vs slaughtered

Both involve killing.

Slaughtered usually refers to animals or a very large, brutal killing of people.

The cows were slaughtered for meat, but the king was murdered by his rival.

murdered vs assassinated

Both are intentional killings.

Assassinated is specifically for famous/political people.

The president was assassinated, while the thief murdered the shopkeeper.

murdered vs executed

Both are planned killings.

Executed is usually legal or official; murdered is illegal.

The criminal was executed by the state for having murdered three people.

murdered vs slain

Synonyms.

Slain is more poetic or used in news headlines; murdered is more common and legal.

The dragon was slain by the knight, but the villager was murdered by a thief.

Structures de phrases

Subject + murdered + Object.

The man murdered the king.

Subject + was murdered.

The lady was murdered.

Subject + was murdered + for + Reason.

He was murdered for his money.

The murdered + Noun + Verb...

The murdered man's watch was still ticking.

Having been murdered, + Clause.

Having been murdered in secret, his body was not found for years.

It is alleged that + Subject + murdered + Object.

It is alleged that the conspirators murdered the heir.

Subject + could murder + a + Noun.

I could murder a sandwich.

Subject + murdered + the + Abstract Noun.

The actor murdered the script with his poor delivery.

Famille de mots

Noms

Verbes

Adjectifs

Apparenté

Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Common in news, fiction, and law; less common in everyday polite conversation.

Erreurs courantes

He murdered in a car crash. → He was killed in a car crash.
Car crashes are usually accidents, and 'murdered' requires intent.
The man murdered of a heart attack. → The man died of a heart attack.
You cannot 'murder' from a natural cause; 'died' is the correct intransitive verb.
He murdered by the police. → He was murdered by the police (if illegal) or killed by the police.
Missing the auxiliary verb 'was' in the passive voice construction.
The soldier was murdered in the war. → The soldier was killed in the war.
Killing in war is generally not legally classified as murder.
I murdered a mistake in my essay. → I made a mistake in my essay.
'Murdered' is not a synonym for 'made' or 'did', even metaphorically in this context.

Astuces

Legal Precision

Only use 'murdered' when you are certain the act was intentional and illegal. In other cases, 'killed' is safer.

Passive Voice

The passive voice 'was murdered' is often more effective in mystery writing to keep the killer's identity hidden.

Synonym Choice

Use 'assassinated' for politicians and 'slaughtered' for brutal mass killings to be more descriptive.

Sensitivity

Avoid using 'murdered' as slang in the presence of people who may have experienced real-life violence.

Adjective Form

Remember that 'murdered' can describe a noun, like 'the murdered king', acting as an adjective.

Hunger Slang

In the UK, 'could murder a...' is a very common way to express extreme hunger or thirst.

The Schwa

The 'e' in 'ered' is very short. Don't over-pronounce it; it should sound almost like 'murd-rd'.

Double E

Always check that you have two 'e's in 'murdered'. One in the root 'murder' and one in the suffix 'ed'.

Macbeth Reference

Knowing the phrase 'Macbeth does murder sleep' can help you understand literary references to the word.

Global Use

The word is understood globally but its legal definition varies slightly by country.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

MURDERED: Malicious Unlawful Ruining of a Dear Existence, Really Ending Days.

Association visuelle

Imagine a detective's chalk outline on the floor; that outline represents the 'murdered' person.

Word Web

Crime Victim Police Weapon Intent Court Prison Justice

Défi

Try to write a three-sentence mystery story using the word 'murdered' as both a verb and an adjective.

Origine du mot

The word 'murdered' comes from the Old English 'morthor', which referred to secret killing. It is related to the Proto-Germanic 'murthran'. The 'ed' suffix was added as the language evolved to indicate the past tense.

Sens originel : A secret killing of a human being, which was considered more shameful than an open killing.

Germanic

Contexte culturel

Be extremely careful using this word around people who have lost loved ones to violence. Use 'passed away' or 'was killed' if you are unsure of the circumstances.

The word is used very frequently in news and entertainment, often with a focus on the forensic details.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Dial M for Murder (Alfred Hitchcock film)

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

News Reporting

found murdered
brutally murdered
police suspect he was murdered
murdered in a domestic dispute

Detective Fiction

who murdered the victim?
the murdered man's will
murdered with a blunt instrument
a classic murder mystery

History

murdered by rivals
the murdered tsar
murdered during the revolution
murdered in a coup

Casual Conversation (Slang)

could murder a drink
murdered that song
got murdered in the game
murdered the joke

Legal Proceedings

charged with having murdered
the murdered party
evidence of being murdered
convicted of murdering

Amorces de conversation

"Have you ever watched a documentary about a famous person who was murdered?"

"What is the best 'murder mystery' movie you have ever seen?"

"In your country, how does the news usually report when someone is murdered?"

"Do you think the slang phrase 'I could murder a pizza' is too strong?"

"Why do you think people are so fascinated by stories of people being murdered?"

Sujets d'écriture

Write a short story starting with the line: 'The detective knew the man had been murdered the moment he saw the umbrella.'

Discuss the difference between the words 'killed' and 'murdered' and why the distinction matters in law.

Describe a time you 'murdered' something (like a song or a joke) and how you felt about it.

Write a poem about a historical figure who was murdered and how it changed the world.

Reflect on why true crime stories about murdered individuals are so popular in modern media.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Generally, no. We use 'killed' or 'slaughtered' for animals. 'Murdered' is reserved for human beings because it involves legal and moral intent.

Yes, by definition, being murdered means the killing was unlawful. If it were lawful (like self-defense), it would not be called murder.

It is a slang term used mainly for cars that have been customized to be entirely black, including the paint, rims, and windows.

Yes, informally this means you did very well on the exam, though 'killed my exam' is more common in US English.

'Was murdered' is more formal and standard. 'Got murdered' is more informal and often used in casual speech or sports contexts.

Yes, it is one of the strongest words in English. It should be used with care due to its violent and serious connotations.

It is spelled M-U-R-D-E-R-E-D. Don't forget the second 'e' before the 'd'.

Yes, you can say 'They were murdered.' If there are many people, 'massacred' might be a more descriptive choice.

It is the legal requirement for a killing to be considered 'murdered'. it means the person had the intention to kill before they did it.

Yes, many translations use 'murdered' or 'slew' to describe intentional killings in biblical stories.