murdered
murdered — verb
- murderedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- murdereds3rd person singular
- murderedding-ing form
- murdereddedpast simple
1. past simple and past participle of murder, used when a person intentionally and
past simple and past participle of murder, used when a person intentionally and unlawfully killed someone.
The gang murdered a shop owner who had spoken to the police.
active: murdered + person
Police said Heloísa was murdered during a robbery near the bus station.
passive: was murdered during + event
Two aid workers were murdered while bringing food to the flooded village.
Anthony's uncle was murdered in prison three months before the trial ended.
The reporter was murdered after she refused to name her source.
- kill
broader and more neutral; it does not by itself imply a crime
- assassinate
used for the deliberate killing of an important public figure, often for political reasons
- slaughter
suggests shocking brutality or many deaths rather than one unlawful killing
文法句型
was murdered by + killer
murdered someone after + clause
murdered while + verb-ing
用法筆記
Frequently passive in news reports, but active sentences often name the killer directly. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense is about taking a life, not ruining a song or joke.
常見錯誤
2. past simple and past participle of murder, used in exaggerated speech when someo
past simple and past participle of murder, used in exaggerated speech when someone said they felt extremely angry with another person.
After the third early alarm, Sade said she could have murdered her roommate.
could have murdered + person = extreme anger
Hamza joked that he could have murdered the taxi driver for stealing Hamza's bags.
joked that + could have murdered
Tara said she would have murdered her brother after he cracked the phone screen.
Christopher laughed that his coach would have murdered him for missing another penalty.
- strangle
has a similar joking force, but sounds rougher and more dramatic
- kill
can be used in the same kind of exaggeration, but is broader and less fixed
- be furious with
states the feeling directly without joking violence
- forgive
shows the angry feeling has been let go instead of intensified
文法句型
could have murdered + person
would have murdered + person
said she could have murdered + person
用法筆記
Almost always appears with 'could have' or 'would have' and is understood as exaggerated, not literal. Use it for sudden anger or frustration, not for a real plan to hurt someone.
常見錯誤
3. past simple and past participle of murder, used when someone did a song, joke, s
past simple and past participle of murder, used when someone did a song, joke, speech, or task so badly that they spoiled it.
The hotel band murdered the wedding song, and half the guests covered their ears.
murdered + song for a painfully bad performance
I murdered my lines in rehearsal and forgot the ending twice.
murdered + lines in a performance
The new cook murdered the noodles by leaving them in boiling water too long.
Yan murdered the joke by explaining it before anyone had time to laugh.
The karaoke singer murdered every high note in the chorus.
文法句型
murdered the song
murdered my lines
murdered + object + by + verb-ing
用法筆記
Usually takes songs, jokes, speeches, food, or another performance or task as the object. Distinguish from sense 1: the result is embarrassment or waste, not physical harm.