was murdered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was murdered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing a crime or violent act where someone has been killed unlawfully. Example: "The detective revealed that the victim was murdered in a shocking turn of events."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was murdered.

Cornell University

No, he was murdered.

The New Yorker

But she was murdered.

Cornell University

Kennedy was murdered.

The New Yorker

Oetzi was murdered.

Independent

His father was murdered.

The New York Times - Sports

In 1572 he was murdered.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Pancho believes she was murdered.

The New York Times - Books

Loredan was murdered in 1439.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He was murdered in 1286.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His sister was murdered.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was murdered" when you want to specifically highlight the intentional and unlawful nature of the killing. It implies a crime was committed.

Common error

While "was murdered" is grammatically sound, overusing passive voice can weaken your writing. Consider using active voice when appropriate to make your sentences more direct and impactful (e.g., "The killer murdered the victim" instead of "The victim was murdered").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was murdered" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject (the victim) received the action of being murdered. Ludwig examples show the phrase in use across diverse narratives and reports, highlighting its role in conveying a specific type of death.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

12%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was murdered" is a grammatically correct and very common passive construction used to report an intentional and unlawful killing. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is widespread across diverse sources, particularly in news and media. While "was murdered" is generally appropriate for neutral contexts, writers should be mindful of passive voice overuse. Semantically related phrases include "was assassinated" and "was slain", each with nuanced differences. Ultimately, "was murdered" clearly communicates the act of homicide and its criminal implications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was assassinated

Focuses on the killing of a prominent figure, often for political reasons.

was slain

A more archaic or literary way to say was killed, often implying violence.

was killed unlawfully

Emphasizes the illegality of the killing.

met a violent end

Focuses on the violent nature of the death without explicitly stating murder.

was fatally attacked

Highlights the attack that led to death.

was a victim of homicide

A more formal and clinical way to describe a murder.

was the victim of foul play

Suggests the death was not accidental and involved malicious intent.

was dispatched

A euphemistic or detached way to say someone was killed.

was taken before their time

Focuses on the premature nature of the death, implying it was unjust.

was brutally killed

Emphasizes the brutality of the killing.

FAQs

What's the difference between "was murdered" and "was killed"?

"Was murdered" implies an intentional and unlawful killing, suggesting a crime. "Was killed" is a more general term and doesn't necessarily imply malicious intent or illegality. For example, someone could "was killed in an accident", but they couldn't be "murdered in an accident".

What are some alternatives to "was murdered"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "was assassinated" (for a political killing), "was slain" (a more archaic term), or "was fatally attacked".

How is "was murdered" used in a sentence?

"Was murdered" is used in the passive voice to indicate that someone was the victim of murder. For example: "The victim "was murdered" in her home."

Is it correct to say "has been murdered" instead of "was murdered"?

Yes, "has been murdered" is also correct, but it implies a more recent event or a continuing investigation. "Was murdered" refers to a completed action in the past. Both are grammatically acceptable.