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
Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2025
So, not securing home-field advantage could be a killer.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
And in a third, the gaunt 30-year-old killer flexes, purses his lips and squints.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Ovarian cancer is the ‘silent killer’ Ni’s cancer journey began in 2007, when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer at age 27.
—Ciara McCarthy 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for killer
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
So treat your crepe myrtles according to label directions with a systemic insecticide called bio advance tree and shrub insect killers.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2025
So, not securing home-field advantage could be a killer.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
And in a third, the gaunt 30-year-old killer flexes, purses his lips and squints.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Ovarian cancer is the ‘silent killer’ Ni’s cancer journey began in 2007, when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer at age 27.
—Ciara McCarthy 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 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 12 Sep. 2025.
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