premeditated

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​med·​i·​tat·​ed (ˌ)prē-ˈme-də-ˌtā-təd How to pronounce premeditated (audio)
Synonyms of premeditatednext
: characterized by fully conscious willful intent and a measure of forethought and planning
premeditated murder
premeditatedly adverb

premeditated

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of premeditate

Examples of premeditated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
In 1842, the appellate court reduced the offense from a premeditated breach of duty to a negligent one, acquitted Ebel of founding a sect, and quashed his confinement. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 Reddington asked the judge to find Clancy not guilty or reduce the charges from premeditated first-degree murder to second-degree murder. — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 The idea of full abolition—beloved by both leaders but not part of the Reykjavik agenda—was an improvised moment, almost an accident, and not some premeditated masterstroke (as the movie implies) by Reagan. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026 In Broward County, every arrest — from simple trespass to premeditated murder — comes through the same courtroom, seven days a week. — Corey B. Friedman, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for premeditated

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1583, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of premeditated was in 1583

Rhymes for premeditated

See All Rhymes for premeditated

Browse Nearby Words

premeditate
premeditated
premeditatedly
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Cite this Entry

“Premeditated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/premeditated. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Legal Definition

premeditated

adjective
pre·​med·​i·​tat·​ed
: having been thought about at some point before being committed
any premeditated killing
also : having been formed prior to commission of the act
with premeditated malice
compare deliberate

More from Merriam-Webster on premeditated

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for premeditated

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