murderous

adjective

mur·​der·​ous ˈmər-d(ə-)rəs 

1

a

: having the purpose or capability of murder

b

: characterized by or causing murder or bloodshed

2

: having the ability or power to overwhelm : devastating

murderous heat

murderously adverb

murderousness noun

Synonyms

• oppressive
• harsh
• searing
• brutal
• tough
• severe
• rough
• cruel
• hard
• grim
• inhuman

Examples of murderous in a Sentence

I can't stand this murderous heat.

The lead runner set a murderous pace.

Recent Examples on the Web

Temuera Morrison plays a terrific villain as the murderous King Kahekili (if only Boba Fett could have been so diabolical in his own show). —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025

But both Dexter and Dexter viewers get quite the shock at the end of the episode when the Gemini Killer casually meets back up with Dexter and their fellow murderous peers, as if nothing happened at all. —Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2025

She has been locked up at Willow Hill and interrogated by Dr. Fairburn (Thandiwe Newton), who is seeking insight into how to control the Hyde, a murderous species that was banned from Nevermore. —Jane Lacroix, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Having vanquished the murderous alliance of her love interest Tyler (Hunter Doohan) and teacher Marilyn Thornhill (Christina Ricci), who had been conspiring against the school’s outcast denizens, she’s hailed as a hero. —Judy Berman, Time, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

murderous

adjective

mur·​der·​ous ˈmərd-(ə-)rəs 

1

: intending or capable of causing murder or bloodshed : deadly

murderous machine-gun fire

2

: very difficult to bear or withstand

a murderous glance

murderous heat

murderously adverb