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killer

1 of 2

noun

kill·​er ˈki-lər How to pronounce killer (audio)
Synonyms of killernext
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

killer

2 of 2

adjective

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
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
The state has another execution scheduled next week, serial killer Frank Athen Walls, for the double murder of a Florida couple in 1987. Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025 Rough House 16 MENTIONS ALTER by SK Dale In a secret military lab, a neuroscientist uses cutting-edge technology to rewire the mind of a psychopathic killer, forcing her own memories onto him in the hopes to trigger empathy. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Dec. 2025 Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, hosts of The Rest is History podcast, will run through a list of suspects before revealing their theories related to the killer’s identity in the final episode, according to the outlet. Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025 Notably, Jackson Kellard — the scribe behind the serial killer script Trace — placed for the fourth time this year after making the list in 2024 and placing with two scripts in 2023. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for killer

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1939, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of killer was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Killer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/killer. Accessed 11 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

killer

1 of 2 noun
ˈkil-ər
1
: one that kills
2

killer

2 of 2 adjective
1
: strikingly impressive or effective
a killer smile
2
: extremely difficult
a killer exam
also : causing death or devastation
a killer tornado

More from Merriam-Webster on killer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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