lynched

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lynched" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing historical events, social justice issues, or discussions about violence and mob justice. Example: "The history of racial violence in America includes many instances where individuals were lynched without due process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A good third of her MPs dare not visit their fiefs for fear of being lynched for treating their constituencies as cash tills.

The Economist

His call to "remoralise welfare" would have got him lynched in the Labour Party of a few years ago.

The Economist

I can imagine the craziness of some of those places, like the slum bar in Kenya where an Oromo stabbed a Luo in the chest for blowing a vuvuzela in his ear and then was lynched by the other customers, all during the half-time interval.

The Economist

Over the same period the Bovespa is up by almost 5%.In this section The decoupling debate Food, fuel and froth Bling fling Crunch numbers Don't mark to Markit Hawks in the outback Lynched When the rivers run dry Internship Reprints Related items Entrepreneurs in Brazil: Betting the fazendaMar 6th 2008 Brazil's economy: This time it will all be differentJan 17th 2008What explains this resilience?

The Economist

The Minustah's human rights section announced that at least six people were killed by mobs in a single week in July in different attacks, and that at least 105 people had been lynched since 2005.

The Economist

They can't go "home" to Israel— That simply isn't on— We'll leave it to the Likud And dear Ariel Sharon.BY CONTRAST, in Ilave, A town in south Peru, Protesters tore the place apart And lynched the mayor too.

The Economist

Human Rights Watch, a New York-based pressure group, reported earlier this month that a man suspected of being a Muslim rebel fighter had been lynched by uniformed military officers.

The Economist

When he was ten, he said, a friend of his was lynched.

The Economist

Instead it has barely budged across the latest business cycle (see left-hand chart).In this section Mining digital gold Bet lynched Opening the floodgates Leaky devils An overdue move Rakoff's revenge A slipping taboo Weight watchers The death of inflation ReprintsDeflation has been the "dog that didn't bark", notes the IMF in its new "World Economic Outlook".

The Economist

But foot-binding has ceased, and witches are lynched only in the most backward villages.Power to the individualThe most important way that technology shapes culture is by increasing the power of individuals.

The Economist

He lingers nostalgically in Boot Hill cemeteries, the last abodes of bodies that were shot, lynched or otherwise violently assaulted.The reputations of a few American legends are damaged by asides.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about historical events involving "lynched", ensure accuracy and sensitivity, acknowledging the racial and social injustices associated with the term.

Common error

Avoid using "lynched" metaphorically to describe situations that do not involve physical violence or death, such as being "lynched" in the media. This trivializes the term's historical significance.

Linguistic Context

The word "lynched" functions primarily as a verb in the past tense or past participle form. It describes the act of a mob killing someone, often without a legal trial. As demonstrated by Ludwig AI, it often appears in historical or news contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Encyclopedias

26%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "lynched" is a verb form describing a specific and violent act of mob killing, often without due process. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and very common in usage. Predominantly found in News & Media and Encyclopedias, its usage carries significant historical weight, particularly concerning racial injustice. While grammatically sound, care should be taken to avoid metaphorical use or trivialization. Alternatives such as "killed by a mob" or "victim of mob violence" may be appropriate depending on the intended nuance and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

killed by a mob

Replaces "lynched" with a more general description of the cause of death, focusing on the group responsible.

murdered by a crowd

Simple and direct alternative, highlighting the act of murder by a group of people.

victim of mob violence

Shifts the focus to the victim and the type of violence they experienced.

fell victim to vigilante justice

Focuses on the concept of vigilante justice and its consequences.

extrajudicially executed by a mob

Emphasizes the illegality and lack of due process in the killing.

subjected to mob rule and killed

Emphasizes the absence of law and order and the violent outcome.

summarily executed by vigilantes

Highlights the vigilante nature of the execution without legal authority.

perished at the hands of a mob

A more formal and somber way to describe the death.

unlawfully killed by a group

A more neutral and legalistic description of the event.

was the target of a fatal mob attack

Highlights the attack as the direct cause of death.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone was "lynched"?

To say someone was "lynched" means they were killed by a mob, often by hanging, without a legal trial. It usually implies racial or social injustice.

What's the difference between being "lynched" and being "murdered by a mob"?

While both involve being killed by a group, "lynched" carries the historical connotation of extrajudicial killings, often with racial or discriminatory motives. The phrase "murdered by a mob" is more general.

Are there alternatives I can use instead of "lynched"?

Yes, depending on the context, you could use phrases like "killed by a mob", "victim of mob violence", or "extrajudicially executed by a mob".

Is it appropriate to use the word "lynched" in a metaphorical sense?

Using "lynched" metaphorically can be insensitive, as it diminishes the historical significance and trauma associated with the act, especially considering its history of racial violence. It's best to avoid such usage.