criminal murder

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "criminal murder" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal contexts or discussions about crime to emphasize the unlawful nature of the act of murder. Example: "The defendant was charged with criminal murder after the evidence clearly showed intent to kill."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

There is only criminal murder, criminal bombing, criminal violence.

The Guardian - Film

The show gives the public a closeup view of a criminal murder case.

The New Yorker

After the criminal murder of Sergey M Kirov, mass repressions and brutal acts of violation of socialist legality began.

The Guardian

After intense criticism, the state government dropped the terrorism charges late last week, maintaining conventional criminal murder and arson charges against the accused in the train fire.

The New York Times

But we have enough self-control to make sense of the difference between the psychopath and the criminal murder, the person who murders unwittingly in a sleepwalk and the cold-blooded killer.

The Guardian

The value of the documentary is not in proving or disproving Avery's and Dassey's guilt; rather, it reveals the complex machinery of criminal murder trials and makes the public aware of the level of doubt inherent in many convictions.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

And Iraq is the most violent country in the region, not only in terms of war casualties but of criminal murders as well.

The New York Times

In a country where the death toll from assassinations, massacres, criminal murders and battlefield casualties – where there are bodies – is so high, disappearances have remained out of focus.

The Guardian

Three other murders since the start of 2009 are connected to a separate feud between rival gangs in the north inner city and one killing involved a Dublin criminal murdered in southern Spain.

The Guardian

You may ask, how would I feel if a criminal murdered someone I love or in some other way caused me severe injury?

Huffington Post

"I believe the criminals murdered them to send a message to the police, to show they are still powerful," said Ms Ornelas.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "criminal murder" to specifically denote a killing that violates criminal law, particularly when distinguishing it from justifiable homicide or other forms of manslaughter.

Common error

Avoid using additional adjectives that simply repeat the 'criminal' aspect of "criminal murder". For example, phrases like "illegal criminal murder" are redundant. Choose one modifier that adequately conveys the unlawful nature of the act.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "criminal murder" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a specific type of unlawful killing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it emphasizes the violation of criminal law, marking the act as illegal. Examples from news sources illustrate its use in describing legal cases and crime reports.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "criminal murder" is a grammatically sound and usable term, as Ludwig AI indicates, employed to specifically denote an unlawful killing that violates criminal law. Primarily found in news and legal contexts, it serves to categorize a killing as a crime and to highlight its legal implications. While the phrase is relatively uncommon, authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian demonstrate its appropriate usage. To avoid redundancy, it's important not to use additional adjectives that merely reiterate the criminal aspect. Alternatives such as "unlawful homicide" or "illegal killing" can be used depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unlawful homicide

Focuses on the illegality of the killing.

Illegal killing

Directly states the act of killing is against the law.

Felonious homicide

Emphasizes the crime as a felony.

Murderous crime

Highlights the criminal aspect of the murder.

Wrongful killing

Indicates the killing was unjust and unlawful.

Homicidal offense

Focuses on the act as a violation of the law related to homicide.

Criminal act of homicide

Expands the phrase to emphasize the action and its criminal nature.

Unjustifiable killing

Highlights the absence of legal justification for the killing.

Illicit homicide

Uses a more formal term for 'illegal'.

Unlawful act of killing

Similar to "illegal killing" but more verbose.

FAQs

How is "criminal murder" different from other types of homicide?

"Criminal murder" specifically implies an unlawful killing that violates criminal statutes. Other forms of homicide, such as manslaughter, may involve different levels of intent or circumstances, whereas "criminal murder" typically suggests premeditation or malice.

What are some alternative phrases to "criminal murder"?

You can use alternatives like "unlawful homicide", "illegal killing", or "felonious homicide" depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the term "criminal murder"?

The term "criminal murder" is appropriately used in legal documents, news reports, and academic discussions concerning crime and justice, particularly when focusing on the legal aspects of a killing.

Is there a legal definition of "criminal murder"?

While "criminal murder" isn't always a precisely defined legal term, it generally refers to any killing that qualifies as murder under criminal law, distinguishing it from justifiable or excusable homicides. Legal definitions of murder vary by jurisdiction, but generally involve unlawful intent and malice.