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.
To me, that is not the reaction of a woman who just found out her fiancé was a murderer. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026 The writer Larry Kramer branded him a murderer in an open letter published in 1988. — Michael Collins, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 The series’ pilot, co-written by show creators Ellis and Ryan Murphy, does an admirable job of introducing the characters and their fraught dynamics along with the threat of a murderer known only as the Trawler. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026 The statement came after Roth detailed a sequence in the film to Polygon that features a cartoon that seemingly hypnotizes children, turning them into murderers. — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 5 Aug. 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

Browse Nearby Words

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 9 Aug. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on murderer

Nglish: Translation of murderer for Spanish Speakers

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