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
Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 19 Feb. 2026
Investigators announced in September that new evidence and reviews of old evidence pointed to Robert Eugene Brashers as the killer.
—Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Glyphosate, a weed killer, has been linked to multiple types of cancer, according to a study by George Mason University.
—Charlotte Hazard, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2026
The girls' true killer was identified last year thanks to DNA, police said.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for killer
Noun
In September 2025, DNA analysts officially linked the slayings to serial killer Robert Eugene Brashers, who Austin cold case detectives believe acted alone.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 19 Feb. 2026
Investigators announced in September that new evidence and reviews of old evidence pointed to Robert Eugene Brashers as the killer.
—Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Glyphosate, a weed killer, has been linked to multiple types of cancer, according to a study by George Mason University.
—Charlotte Hazard, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2026
The girls' true killer was identified last year thanks to DNA, police said.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for killer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for killer
Noun
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Major industry groups including the American Petroleum Institute have not fought to kill the federal endangerment finding, because a patchwork of state laws could ultimately replace it — leading to legal headaches and a raft of nuisance lawsuits against them, experts said.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
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Gone are the days of worrying that your vitamins or headache medication accidentally spilled all over the bottom of the bag; this style has two layers of defense.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Investigators are now turning to genetic genealogy, which has previously successfully identified other high-profile criminals like the Golden State Killer and University of Idaho murderer Brian Kohberger.—
Liz Kreutz,
NBC news,
19 Feb. 2026
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Originally, the legal teams were only allowed to ask the ICE agent six questions regarding the new revelation that the murderer was allegedly a Haitian hitman.—
Nikiya Carrero,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Takaichi has pledged to revise security and defense policies by December to bolster Japan's military capabilities, lifting a ban on lethal weapons exports and moving further away from postwar pacifist principles.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
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The biopolymer shots are not approved by the FDA, which has warned about potentially lethal side effects.—
Theresa Braine,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But having dodged the traps of the social media news era, The Economist now faces looming long-term structural challenges that may be more difficult to avoid.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
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Frontflips are generally more difficult than backflips for both humans and robots.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Yet the requirement to have identification to get a shoveling job would appear to contradict such claims and concerns.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Feb. 2026
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In the modern age of remote hiring, the virtual job interview has devolved into a Wild West of unprofessionalism and artificial intelligence shortcuts.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The kid is an assassin, just like Jordan.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
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Phoenix Raei joined The Night Agent as Dale, an assassin who is Ellen's lover and partner in crime.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Washington — The House of Representatives is set to consider whether a collision avoidance system that supporters say could have prevented last year’s deadly midair collision near Washington should be required on every plane in the US.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
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That pause came six days after yet another judge vacated Williams’ lengthy sentence for the deadly 2001 shooting on the Santee campus, a decision that could clear the way for his release.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Dorm’s New ‘Frenemy’ Their quest will be all the more challenging when a new friend (or foe) appears in the dorm.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
18 Feb. 2026
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Schedule time with a challenging book, as fresh ideas can soothe moods and moderate your protective instincts.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Killer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killer. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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