murderer

noun

mur·​der·​er ˈmər-dər-ər How to pronounce murderer (audio)
Synonyms of murderernext
: one who murders
especially : one who commits the crime of murder

Synonyms of murderer

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Examples of murderer in a Sentence

the murderer was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Playing a dark character was hardly a new shtick for Woods, who landed his breakout role as real-life murderer Gregory Powell in The Onion Field (1979). — Kelly Martinez, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2026 That’s because Kansas City’s five victories haven’t exactly come against a murderer’s row of opponents. — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026 Here, however, the show pulls a fast one, revealing that the murderer isn’t Pam, but instead a young girl named Grace (Gwendolyn Sundstrom). — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026 Benjamin Rush, the Philadelphia physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence, opposed executing even murderers. — Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for murderer

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of murderer was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing murderer

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murderee
murderer
murderess
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Cite this Entry

“Murderer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/murderer. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Legal Definition

murderer

noun
mur·​der·​er ˈmər-dər-ər How to pronounce murderer (audio)
: a person who commits murder
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