were put to death

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were put to death" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing executions, historical events, or legal matters involving capital punishment. Example: "The convicted criminals were put to death after a lengthy trial and appeals process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

Others less fortunate were put to death.

The New York Times

Seven anarchists were arrested, four were put to death.

Yale University

Some of the Spirituals were put to death.

The New Yorker

Many were put to death because they refused to recant their faith.

The Guardian

Around 20,000 were put to death in its early days.

The Guardian

The replacement kings died or were put to death after their brief term of office.

Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

He is put to death.

The New Yorker

Will Gu be put to death?

The New Yorker

He, too, is put to death.

The New Yorker

Joseph Wood was put to death in Arizona.

The Economist

Julius was put to death.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were put to death" when you want to emphasize the act of execution or the process leading to death, especially in legal or historical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "were put to death" interchangeably with phrases like "died" or "passed away" in situations where a more sensitive or euphemistic tone is appropriate. "Were put to death" specifically implies execution or a state-sanctioned killing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were put to death" functions as a passive construction indicating that individuals were subjected to execution or capital punishment. As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, it is commonly used in historical and legal contexts to describe the act of taking someone's life by order of an authority.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were put to death" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe executions, often in historical or legal contexts. Ludwig confirms its correctness and widespread usage across news, encyclopedias, and academic writings. Although the phrase is generally neutral to formal, considering alternatives like "were executed" might be useful depending on the intended audience. The phrase specifically denotes executions, so be mindful of using more euphemistic phrases if sensitivity is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were executed

More direct and formal term for legally sanctioned killings.

faced capital punishment

Focuses on the legal consequence rather than the act itself.

were given the death penalty

Highlights the sentencing aspect of capital punishment.

were condemned to die

Emphasizes the judgment or sentence leading to death.

lost their lives

Euphemistic and general, applicable to death from any cause.

were killed

Simple and direct, lacks the formality of "executed".

met their end

A more figurative and less direct way of saying someone died, often implying a finality or conclusion.

were terminated

An extremely clinical and impersonal term, often used in bureaucratic or artificial contexts.

were liquidated

Often used to refer to the planned and systematic elimination of individuals or groups.

were no more

Poetic and archaic, suggests a complete cessation of existence.

FAQs

What does "were put to death" mean?

The phrase "were put to death" means that someone was executed or killed, often by a governing authority or as a result of a legal sentence.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "were put to death"?

It's appropriate to use "were put to death" in historical, legal, or factual contexts where you want to specifically highlight that someone was executed or subjected to capital punishment. Consider alternatives like "were executed" in formal contexts.

Are there more sensitive ways to say "were put to death"?

Yes, depending on the context, alternatives like "lost their lives" or "met their end" can be used if you wish to avoid the harshness of explicitly stating that someone was executed.

Is "were put to death" different from "were killed"?

Yes. While both phrases describe the end of someone's life, "were put to death" implies a deliberate act, often sanctioned by an authority. "Were killed" is more general and can refer to accidental deaths, murders, or any other cause of death. Using "were killed" might be more appropriate when the specific cause of death isn't directly related to execution.