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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of killer
David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Apr. 2026
Historically, infantry’s biggest killer has been artillery.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Midsi Sanchez was just 8 years old when she was kidnapped and held captive by a serial killer before escaping.
—Midsi Sanchez, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
The killer blow for the Rockies was the third, when Houston scored six runs on four hits, two errors by second baseman Willi Castro, and a balk by starter Michael Lorenezen.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for killer
Noun
In this entry, the third of the series, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his chums at a children’s finishing school for magicians called Hogwarts must work together to protect Harry from a killer named Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), who intends to kill the young wizard.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Apr. 2026
Historically, infantry’s biggest killer has been artillery.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Midsi Sanchez was just 8 years old when she was kidnapped and held captive by a serial killer before escaping.
—Midsi Sanchez, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
The killer blow for the Rockies was the third, when Houston scored six runs on four hits, two errors by second baseman Willi Castro, and a balk by starter Michael Lorenezen.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for killer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for killer
Noun
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The war also caused gasoline and diesel prices to surge, causing further headaches for farmers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
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Lyme disease can bring about flu-like symptoms, headaches, fever and chills.—
Mary Eber,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Forget the glossy card-stock mailers with distorted images, designed to make your opponent look like an ax murderer.—
Steve Bousquet,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
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Why hadn’t any of her producers and writers over the years—a murderers’ row including Tove Lo, Julia Michaels, and the duo Monsters & Strangerz, of the Max Martin school—struck the vein of her personality?—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Airing in 2002, Jackson is exposed to lethal radiation after diving into a reactor to shut it down and prevent a meltdown.—
Daryl Baxter,
Space.com,
14 Apr. 2026
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Tewksbury Police Chief Ryan Columbus and the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association criticized the order, saying the removal of less-lethal equipment will place hospital public safety officers, staff, patients and residents at risk.—
Rick Pozniak,
Boston Herald,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Such claims of penury, however, were difficult to square with certain facts.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Over time, my relationship with my wife has become very difficult.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The jobs help generate nearly $3 billion in annual economic output, according to estimates from the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association.—
Stephanie Armour,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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New Gallup polling finds that while more employees are using AI frequently in their work, there’s been an uptick in alarm that new technologies will replace their jobs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Their efforts lead them in the season’s last two episodes to Paris, where Frank was planning to celebrate his 80th birthday with his children — only for him to be gunned down in a hotel lobby by an assassin who had been sent to kill Teddy for a deal gone wrong.—
Max Gao,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2026
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Neither of these two is necessarily a lip-sync assassin.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The woman had an active domestic violence restraining order against Garcia at the time of the deadly shooting.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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Their world is upended when a new neighbor moves in across the street, bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light and new deadly threats shatter the illusion of their quiet little neighborhood.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Cubs are trying to survive this challenging stretch as they have been decimated by pitching injuries.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
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In kitchens around the country, chefs are translating this novelty into dishes that aren’t too challenging to get behind.—
Jaia Clingham-David,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Killer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killer. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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