homicide

noun

ˈhä-mə-ˌsīd How to pronounce homicide (audio)
Definition of homicidenext
1
as in murder
the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life it was feared that the missing man was the victim of a homicide, but no clues as to his disappearance were ever found

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in murderer
a person who kills another person throughout the ages society has stigmatized the homicide

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of homicide Fernandez was booked in Madera County Jail for a homicide charge, police said. — Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025 He was told that no charges were filed and that it was deemed a justifiable homicide. — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2025 That can include multiple homicides or cases in which the victim is a law enforcement officer or witness to a crime. — Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025 Anyone with information is asked to contact homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for homicide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for homicide
  1. murder
  2. murderer
  3. assassin
Noun
  • Monroe County Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating the murder of a woman whose body was found stuffed into a closet Monday at a Florida Keys resort.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The Menendez brothers were convicted in 1996 for the murder of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez.
    — Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of murder
Noun
  • Now, while media and fans are all crunching the numbers and trying to predict who will die and who their murderer is in Season 3, several people involved with the series are effectively telling audiences to brace themselves for something big in the finale, which will run 90 minutes.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • There tends to be a bit of pitch-black comedy wrapped up in its deaths (see: Tanya toppling to her death after escaping her would-be murderers in season 2).
    — Randall Colburn, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of murderer
Noun
  • And early intensity gave way to a late-game assassin.
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Bruce Glover, the unorthodox actor who portrayed Mr. Wint, the assassin with the distinctive aftershave who partnered with Putter Smith’s Mr. Kidd in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever, has died.
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of assassin

Browse Nearby Words

homicidal
homicide
homicides
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Homicide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/homicide. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on homicide

Nglish: Translation of homicide for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about homicide

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See More

Popular

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a game of hangman on lined paper
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All