1
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
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of killer
Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Aside from looking creepy, sort of a given with all porcelain dolls of a certain age, Annabelle doesn’t do much of anything, and yet that hasn’t stopped her from headlining her own spinoff series and getting mentioned in the same breath as far more dynamic pint-size killers like Chucky and M3gan.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Lightning is one of nature's leading killers.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
The files detail the billionaire’s findings on all of the current and past serial killers he’s been obsessed with.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for killer
Noun
Dexter decides to gather all the files on him and other killers to take with him.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Aside from looking creepy, sort of a given with all porcelain dolls of a certain age, Annabelle doesn’t do much of anything, and yet that hasn’t stopped her from headlining her own spinoff series and getting mentioned in the same breath as far more dynamic pint-size killers like Chucky and M3gan.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Lightning is one of nature's leading killers.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
The files detail the billionaire’s findings on all of the current and past serial killers he’s been obsessed with.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for killer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for killer
Noun
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The fight over transit funding is just one part of a bigger headache—Pennsylvania’s budget is more than nine weeks late.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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Symptoms of Chagas disease include fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, rash, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, and eyelid swelling.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Quadruple murderer Bryan Kohberger claimed in court documents that he was diagnosed with four mental health disorders in the months leading up to his guilty plea in the killings of four University of Idaho students.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
5 Sep. 2025
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There is nothing here that indicates, as the late Professor Harbage has well said, that in order to be king hereafter Macbeth must be murderer first.—
Emily Zarevich,
JSTOR Daily,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This mix of impulsivity and ambivalence highlights why a safe environment – without access to firearms or other lethal methods – can be the difference between life and death for someone in crisis.—
Emmy Betz,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
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Executions are on hold in Idaho as the state prison system remodels its execution chamber in the transition from lethal injection to a firing squad as the lead method.—
Kevin Fixler
September 5,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Bulls look to be the best team in the Group of Five conferences, while the Gators and coach Billy Napier are now under pressure with a difficult SEC schedule ahead.—
Erick Smith,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
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Usually the final day of boot camp is most difficult.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Duncan Wanblad, chief executive of Anglo, will take the top job and Anglo Teck while Teck’s chief executive Jonathan Price, will be his deputy.—
Tim Treadgold,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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That’s when Billy Napier accepted the Florida job.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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With the help of an unpredictable assassin named Louie (Butler, who also plays the Pope), the pair embark on a dark and murderous journey to steal and authenticate the priceless work.—
Nada Aboul Kheir,
Deadline,
3 Sep. 2025
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The two Kill Bill films, while still about crime and criminals and ninja assassins, set themselves apart from his earlier works.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Over the past 48 hours, Nepal has been rocked by deadly mass protests led by young people who are frustrated over the country's leadership.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
10 Sep. 2025
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Rip currents are the deadliest of surf-zone dangers, making up the majority of deaths among beach swimmers every year, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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To be sure, the last few years have been more challenging, with Gucci rapidly losing momentum — and Kering’s debt load swelling after an acquisition spree that included Creed, Maui Jim, a 30 percent stake in Valentino, and large chunks of prime real estate.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
9 Sep. 2025
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Ultimately, gig engineering is becoming an attractive but challenging path.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Killer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killer. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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