1
: one that kills
2
3
a
: one that has a forceful, violent, or striking impact
b
: one that is extremely difficult to deal with
1
: strikingly impressive or effective
a killer smile
a killer résumé
2
: extremely difficult to deal with
a killer fastball
also
: causing death or devastation
a killer tornado
Examples of killer in a Sentence
Noun
Heart disease is the leading killer of both men and women.
The chemical is used as a weed killer.
Adjective
killer viruses that claimed millions of lives
a killer exercise program guaranteed to whip you into shape
Recent Examples on the Web
Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
The film sees detectives discover the remains of 23 women and six men at the residence of filmmaker and serial killer Mark Chapel, who is arrested along with a collaborator, Donovan Summers, who is also later detained.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
There were no flies on the dead people and animals—even insects had succumbed to the invisible stealth killer.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
The Monster of Florence is a name coined by Mario Spezi, a former crime reporter for Italy's La Nazione, for a serial killer that terrorized the countryside outside Florence, Italy, between 1968 and 1985.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for killer
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.
Noun
Some investigators argued for a lone killer, while others suggested a network of individuals acting under occult motivations.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
The film sees detectives discover the remains of 23 women and six men at the residence of filmmaker and serial killer Mark Chapel, who is arrested along with a collaborator, Donovan Summers, who is also later detained.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
There were no flies on the dead people and animals—even insects had succumbed to the invisible stealth killer.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
The Monster of Florence is a name coined by Mario Spezi, a former crime reporter for Italy's La Nazione, for a serial killer that terrorized the countryside outside Florence, Italy, between 1968 and 1985.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for killer
Cite this Entry
“Killer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/killer. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share