homicidal

adjective

ho·​mi·​cid·​al ˌhä-mə-ˈsī-dᵊl  ˌhō- 

: of, relating to, or tending toward homicide

homicidally

ˌhä-mə-ˈsī-dᵊl-ē 

ˌhō-

adverb

Synonyms

• murderous
• murdering

Examples of homicidal in a Sentence

court-appointed psychiatrists have described the accused as a sociopath with homicidal tendencies who is a danger to himself and others

Recent Examples on the Web

The majority of gun use incidents are suicidal, homicidal, and accidental. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025

Ooh, this one is of a homicidal purple alien chainsawing my child’s head off. —Frederick Dreier, Outside, 20 Oct. 2025

Are the Zizians simply a band of misunderstood misfits with homicidal tendencies? —Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 20 Oct. 2025

Walker’s performance is one of the greatest portrayals of homicidal mania in film history. —Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for homicidal

• fratricidal
• fungicidal
• genocidal
• germicidal
• herbicidal
• intertidal
• suicidal
• apsidal
• subtidal
• bridal
• bridle
• idle

Kids Definition

homicidal

adjective

ho·​mi·​cid·​al ˌhäm-ə-ˈsīd-ᵊl 

ˌhō-mə-

: of, relating to, or having tendencies toward the killing of another person : murderous

homicidally

-ˈsīd-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Medical Definition

homicidal

adjective

ho·​mi·​cid·​al ˌhäm-ə-ˈsīd-ᵊl  ˌhō-mə- 

: of, relating to, or tending toward homicide

homicidally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Legal Definition

homicidal

adjective

ho·​mi·​ci·​dal ˌhä-mə-ˈsīd-ᵊl, ˌhō- 

: of, relating to, or tending toward homicide