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

• bitter
• brutal
• burdensome
• cruel
• excruciating
• grievous
• grim
• hard
• hardhanded
• harsh
• heavy
• inhuman
• onerous
• oppressive
• rough
• rugged
• searing
• severe
• stiff
• tough
• trying

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

Jared learns a murderous ogre, Mulgarath, is the source of all of Henson’s woes, and that the diabolical monster is after his great-grandfather Arthur Spiderwick’s (Albert Jones) magical field guide, which has been divided up and hidden around the town. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024

The diversion of ever more water from the federal government’s Shasta Dam for farm irrigation has driven temperatures in the Sacramento River to murderous levels. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024

In this movie, Black and Brown people work with one another and with white folk who are not murderous hicks. —Eisa Nefertari Ulen, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Apr. 2024

The nastiest, most murderous people on earth are aligned. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 16 Apr. 2024

Decision makers in Riyadh and Amman, as well as elsewhere, are well aware that Khamenei and his murderous regime are a threat to the peace and security of their own people, the region, and the world. —Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 14 Apr. 2024

James McAvoy may have a murderous intent in the new trailer for Speak No Evil, a horror film based on 2022 Danish hit Gæsterne. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024

One of the through-lines of the franchise is a murderous persona known as Ghostface, who wears a cartoonish white rubber mask and dons a black hooded robe. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2024

The civil war and genocide generated millions of displaced people, many of whom accompanied the murderous government into neighboring countries as the RPF advanced. —Jonathan M. Hansen, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024

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