1
as in headache
a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work
weeding out that overgrown garden is going to be a killer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in murderer
a person who kills another person
gunned down by hired killers
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death
killer viruses that claimed millions of lives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
a killer exercise program guaranteed to whip you into shape
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of killer
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026
Positioned as a large-scale genre event, the series updates the legendary SFX property with a contemporary political and social edge, with Shun Oguri leading the cast as a detective hunting a seemingly incorporeal killer.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
The murders sparked a weeks-long search for the killer, culminating in Kohberger’s arrest.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
Police have not announced any arrests, but say that Millhouse was in a dispute with his killer shortly before he was shot.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for killer
Noun
Cleaning Products And Chemicals Paint, fertilizer, weed killer, pool cleaners, and other temperature-sensitive chemicals should be brought indoors for the winter to prevent freezing and deterioration.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026
Positioned as a large-scale genre event, the series updates the legendary SFX property with a contemporary political and social edge, with Shun Oguri leading the cast as a detective hunting a seemingly incorporeal killer.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
The murders sparked a weeks-long search for the killer, culminating in Kohberger’s arrest.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
Police have not announced any arrests, but say that Millhouse was in a dispute with his killer shortly before he was shot.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for killer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for killer
Noun
-
Think peachy-bright, brunchy, and a little flirty without the headache.—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Sonny Fouts, 71, has had a headache, stomachache and trouble sleeping since seeing news reports that the 37-year-old ICU nurse had been fatally shot by ICE agents Saturday, the vet and retired musician told People.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
On Monday, a jury found Townsend guilty of endangerment and concealing a homicide, but the murderer is still out there.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
What starts as a hunt for a murderer escalates into an undercover operation to foil a far-right bomb plot in the heart of London.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Thompson’s original death sentence was later overturned, but a jury again sentenced him to die by lethal injection following a new punishment trial in November 2005.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Thompson, 55, was scheduled to receive a lethal injection Wednesday evening at the state penitentiary in Huntsville.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Business leaders, of course, have their own interests and shareholders to serve, but Democrats can still protect the public interest while giving CEOs a seat at the table to reach pragmatic answers to difficult questions like these.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Activist groups say hundreds of people have been killed, though the true toll remains difficult to verify due to the internet blackout and tight state controls on information.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But again, as of late, Jalen has been doing a great job of making plays for us.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The TikTok guy will even teach you how to use the tools required for the job.—
Nolan Finley The Detroit News,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Miller called him an assassin on social media; Vice President JD Vance reposted the message.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The 384-page hardcover focuses on the game's main antagonist, crime lord Jaylen Vrax, and his intimidating assassin droid ND-5.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Martinez and another man were charged in October with assault with a deadly weapon, accused of following the agents' vehicles and initiating the collision with Exum's SUV that led to the shooting on Chicago's south side.—
James Hill,
ABC News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The January 29, 2025, collision was the deadliest commercial aviation accident in the United States in the last 16 years.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
If some species can continue reproducing even under challenging conditions, that resilience could buy ecosystems valuable time.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Much of Shrinking revolves around people going through challenging times and healing through finding love, such as Paul (Harrison Ford) beginning a relationship with his doctor.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Killer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killer. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
