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
Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
She had been hogtied with an extension cord, raped, and strangled before the killer started a fire, court records say.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 13 May 2026
The killer chasing you through the woods.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 12 May 2026
Throughout the trial, prosecutors portrayed the mother of three as a money-hungry killer.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for killer
Noun
Then there was the flying killer sheep.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
She had been hogtied with an extension cord, raped, and strangled before the killer started a fire, court records say.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 13 May 2026
The killer chasing you through the woods.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 12 May 2026
Throughout the trial, prosecutors portrayed the mother of three as a money-hungry killer.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for killer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for killer
Noun
-
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome causes fatigue, fever, muscle aches, abdominal problems, headaches, chills and dizziness in the early stages, and late symptoms include chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath and lungs filling with fluid.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
And Malia is also achingly lonesome for her family life, with a sister about to get married and a doting father played, in this headache-inducingly twisty psychodrama’s most refreshing meta-twist, by Romanian director Radu Jude.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Harris was no longer seen as a murderer, and the state decided not to retry him.—
Nate Anderson,
ArsTechnica,
14 May 2026
-
The entire movie, people just keep talking about how Clint Eastwood’s character, William Munny, was the most incredible murderer the West has ever seen.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Prosecutors also displayed the internet search history from Richins’ phone, which included queries about the lethal dose of fentanyl, luxury prisons and how poisoning is marked on a death certificate.—
Hannah Schoenbaum,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
In a letter last month, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration notified federal grant recipients that the government would no longer pay for test strips and kits that help drug users see if their drugs contain highly-lethal additives.—
Mike Stobbe,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
When Thomson went through a difficult divorce, in 2014, Djena would often check in on her, showing up at her door with food.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Crow-Armstrong had just failed to make a highly difficult, leaping catch at the wall.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Further declines in home prices would deepen the hit to household balance sheets, said Lizzi Lee, a fellow at Center for China Analysis, noting that the property downturn has already inflicted significant job losses across construction and related sectors.—
Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
-
One candidate ran as a fervent booster, arguing that Atlantic Yards would bring jobs and housing to the area.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
English actress Comer is probably best known for her role as sociopathic assassin Villanelle on BBC America’s Killing Eve, which earned her an Emmy and BAFTA TV Award.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
-
As a refresher, the epic Yellowstone finale saw the Dutton family finally uncover how patriarch John Dutton was killed by an assassin hired by Jamie’s (Wes Bentley) girlfriend.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Hassane spoke at the afternoon news conference about the deadly attack at his institution this morning, decrying the conditions that could create such violence.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
19 May 2026
-
The most severe form of Legionella bacteria infection leads to Legionnaires’ disease, a serious and potentially deadly type of pneumonia, the CDC says.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Figuring out how to animate them was challenging.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
13 May 2026
-
With more than 7,300 yards of play, this challenging course also allows shorter three- or six-hole loops, perfect for golf vacations with kids who may not be up for an entire 18-hole round.—
Megan duBois,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Killer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killer. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
