KILLER Synonyms: 201 Similar and Opposite Words

killer 1 of 2

noun

ˈki-lər

Definition of killer

as in headache

a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work weeding out that overgrown garden is going to be a killer

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in murderer

a person who kills another person gunned down by hired killers

Synonyms & Similar Words

killer

2 of 2

adjective

as in lethal

likely to cause or capable of causing death killer viruses that claimed millions of lives

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort a killer exercise program guaranteed to whip you into shape

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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

Noun

Adapted from Lars Kepler’s bestselling novel, the series centers on Schreiber’s ex-cop whose move to a small western Pennsylvania town spurs a string of disappearances possibly tied to a serial killer. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026 Ghosts can haunt their killers, or serve as a warning for the living to not forget the tragedies of the past. — Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026 Wawrinka was a giant-killer, but only on a few extremely memorable occasions. — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026 There were several serial killers the profilers initially focused on. — Diana Urban, Hartford Courant, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for killer

Recent Examples of Synonyms for killer

Noun

Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Epstein have caused headaches for Britain’s royal family for almost two decades.

— Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026
Frequent awakenings, loud snoring, gasping during sleep, morning headaches or uncomfortable leg sensations warrant a conversation with a healthcare provider.

— Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of headache

Noun

Alongside her scientifically credible poisoning scenarios, numerous doctors and pharmacists appear in Christie’s novels — sometimes as victims, other times as murderers — showing how her early brushes with the world of medicine never left her mind.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
Playing a dark character was hardly a new shtick for Woods, who landed his breakout role as real-life murderer Gregory Powell in The Onion Field (1979).

— Kelly Martinez, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of murderer

Adjective

The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation does not currently have lethal injection drugs on hand, according to spokesperson Terri Hardy.

— Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Separately, his legal team has asked the governor to delay the execution and review how the state acquires drugs for lethal injections.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of lethal

Adjective

Jarman, who came in as the defending champion on the event, put together a more difficult routine but was nicked by judges for his execution.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
This is the last remaining game on the schedule that should be very difficult.

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of difficult

Noun

Despite a strong growth forecast for the region, unemployment among the fast-growing youth population remains stubbornly high, leading to political instability and leaving the authorities looking for ways to create more jobs.

— Martin K.N Siele, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026
When the heavy hand of government borrowing reduces private investment, jobs are at stake.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of job

Noun

The Democratic presidential front-runner had just finished his California primary victory speech — thanking Chávez and Huerta — when an assassin gunned him down.

— James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Nearly all of those 80 teams had a wing player who was either a prolific scorer, an in-his-prime All-Star, an accomplished floor general or a skilled shot creator/late-game assassin.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of assassin

Adjective

Seminci unveiled its winners Saturday morning in Valladolid after organizers canceled the traditional closing gala following a deadly train accident in Toledo province.

— Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 1 Nov. 2026
Elsewhere, deadly attacks continued and Ukraine's central bank warned that damage to industrial targets could push the country into a recession.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of deadly

Adjective

Such calculations are part of a wider effort to understand why molecular simulations remain challenging.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
But the shift in college athletics has required an internal reconciling that is even more challenging than the external education.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026