menewaskan

Menewaskan is an Indonesian transitive verb meaning to cause someone to die or to kill. It describes an action by an agent that results in the death of another person, and in some contexts of animals as well. The emphasis is on the outcome—death—rather than the specific method used to bring it about.

Origin and formation: Menewaskan is formed from the root tewas (to die) with the prefix meN- and the causative suffix -kan. The construction signals causation: the subject makes the death happen to the object. As a result, it is used when describing deaths caused by a person or by an event, rather than simply when someone dies of natural causes.

Usage and nuances: In standard Indonesian, menewaskan is common in formal writing and media. It can describe deaths caused by violence, accidents, or other actions. It is often used for situations where a person or event is the cause of a death. The term membunuh is more directly linked to the act of killing, while menewaskan emphasizes the resulting death, though the two are frequently interchangeable in everyday language depending on nuance and register.

Examples: Kelompok pemberontak menewaskan seorang tentara. Kecelakaan itu menewaskan lima orang. Seorang penjahat menewaskan korbannya dengan senjata tajam. The death of the victim is the central meaning in these constructions.

Related terms: tewas (to die), membunuh (to kill, murder), kematian (death), pembunuhan (murder). See also: passive and related phrases such as tewasnya (the death of) and konteks penggunaan dalam berita.