# murdered

/ˈmɝdɝd/ (US) · /mˈɜːdəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/murdered
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. having been killed

adjective · CEFR B2

describes a person who has been killed in a crime.

For teachers: a participial adjective describing a person who has been the victim of a homicide.

- The family of the murdered man asked for privacy during the trial.
- The detective stood silently by the grave of the murdered journalist, vowing to find the person responsible for the tragedy.

### 3. to perform badly

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Humorous

to perform a song or a piece of music very badly.

For teachers: to perform, utter, or represent something so poorly that it is effectively ruined.

- He really murdered that song at the karaoke bar last night.
- The amateur choir completely murdered the national anthem, missing several key notes and losing the rhythm entirely.

Usage: Usually takes a direct object representing a creative work or performance.

## Examples

- The king was murdered by his own guards.
- Police believe the victim was murdered late Saturday night after leaving the restaurant alone.
- The historical drama explores the political fallout that occurs when a popular leader is murdered by those closest to him in a bid for power.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.