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

Shameless veteran Emmy Rossum plays an FBI agent who is inadvertently set on the path of a killer targeting rich men. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Crystal Lake stars Emmy Award nominee Linda Cardellini (Dead to Me, Mad Man) as Pamela Voorhees, the mother of the notorious Friday the 13th killer Jason. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026 An Alameda County jury has convicted a local resident of one of the city’s most eerie murders in recent memory, a case largely based on DNA evidence found in the killer’s clown mask. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 31 July 2026 Using commercial weed killers on your driveway can damage surrounding plants, harm wildlife, and contribute to water pollution through runoff. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for killer

Recent Examples of Synonyms for killer

Noun

Because for sports spread thin across multiple broadcasters, and fewer bars, the headache for fans is only getting sharper.

— Leo MacLehose, Sportico.com, 31 July 2026
Typhus symptoms develop one to two weeks after a person becomes infected, and can include fever, headache, body aches, chills, rash, nausea and vomiting.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 30 July 2026

Definition of headache

Noun

Fleming remains in the fold at Universal after being tapped for a role alongside a murderer’s row of fellow comics in the Judd Apatow-Glen Powell comedy The Comeback King, out February 5.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 31 July 2026
In the somewhat convoluted progress of Mitchell’s script, their ego war is eventually eclipsed by fears there’s a genuine murderer on the loose — perhaps even an actual vampire.

— Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 July 2026

Definition of murderer

Adjective

Japan’s recent scrapping of lethal weapons export ban could also help strengthen the country's underdeveloped defense industry.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
The movie’s pièce de résistance is a massive massacre sequence in which an entire school of kids turns on the adults in their lives, killing their parents and teachers by using every school supply in sight as a lethal weapon.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of lethal

Adjective

For a long time, we’ve all been told that remastering the older Super Robot Wars games was extremely difficult, due to all the licensing and other costs involved.

— Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
After three difficult years, armed groups loyal to Tehran appear to be bouncing back across the Middle East, reinforcing Iran’s leverage in its war with the US and Israel.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of difficult

Noun

Not everyone’s job includes crawling 150 feet through a spillway pipe 20 feet beneath a lake.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
The jobs span the agriculture, automotive, education, finance, government, healthcare, hospitality, information technology, law enforcement, real estate and retail industries, among others, according to the fair’s website.

— Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026

Definition of job

Noun

Created by Tessa Coates, Ride or Die is a spy action comedy about an assassin, Judith (Waddingham) whose latest case inadvertently involves her best friend of more than 20 years, Debbie (Spencer), a politician’s wife.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026
This show loves nothing more this season than to introduce a potential assassin and promptly thwart his plan via blade to the head or neck.

— Brian Grubb, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of assassin

Adjective

Since then, the military have kept her exact whereabouts and condition secret as a deadly civil war has engulfed much of the impoverished Southeast Asian nation.

— Helen Regan, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
Moscow mayor calls Saturday's deadly bomb attack on restaurant a 'terrorist act.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of deadly

Adjective

Even during a challenging season, Stanek continued to showcase one of baseball's hardest fastballs with a plus slider, splitter and sweeper.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
There’s also 20-year-old Connor Zilisch, who’s had a challenging rookie season but is still one of the most prized young drivers to ever join the Cup Series.

— Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026