Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
executed

executed

6.4
Put to death after a court sentence
  • adjective
  • /ˈɛksɪˌkjutɪd/
  • Formal
translation icon : ejecutado
  • He went back there and was executed by a firing squad.

Examples

  • In some countries, those who commit treason are executed as a punishment.

  • Socrates, we think actually was tried and and executed in a building in the Agora.

  • Like war crimes, you know, people being executed, kids being killed.

  • And whoever would challenge him was executed in one way, shape or form or another.

  • I mean, he saw people executed on killing grounds in in Guangzhou.

  • The criminal was executed after the jury found him guilty of murder.

  • The law dictates that anyone convicted of such heinous crimes shall be executed.

Synonyms

to hang
vsexecuted
  • Offensive
524 8.6

To kill a person by tying a rope around their neck and removing support

is the general legal killing not limited to one method
to execute
vsexecuted
  • Formal
294 6.1

To put someone to death as a legal punishment

is the past action often stated after a court decision
to put to death
vsexecuted
  • Offensive
46 7.6

To kill someone as a legal punishment

refers specifically to formal ending of life after a court sentence
beheaded
vsexecuted
  • Offensive
7.1

With the head cut off, often as a way to kill someone

is the broader legal killing that can use many methods
decapitated
vsexecuted
  • Offensive
8.1

With the head cut off

is the lawful killing after sentencing rather than violent death

Antonyms

to spare
77 3.5

Decide not to hurt someone even though you could

to acquit
28 7.4

To say in court that someone is not guilty

How Punished

executed
  • Formal
6.4
tortured
  • Offensive
6.6
punished
1.4
scot-free
  • Informal
19 8.4

Surface Forms

executed positive

Morphology

executed = execute (transparent) = execute + ed

Regular past-participle/adjectival formation from 'execute' meaning 'to put to death', so the relation is directly derivable for learners who know the verb.

Etymology

Executed comes from Latin parts ex- 'out' and sequi 'to follow', and it originally meant 'to carry out' or 'put into action'. So when we say someone was 'executed' in a legal setting, it means the punishment was 'carried out' or the sentence was done.