murderous

adjective

ˈmər-d(ə-)rəs How to pronounce murderous (audio)
Definition of murderousnext
1
as in oppressive
difficult to endure the murderous heat of the desert

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2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort those exams were murderous

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3
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death braved murderous machine-gun fire to capture the hill from the enemy

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4
as in murdering
eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, extreme violence, or killing Viking warriors became legendary for the murderous fury they displayed in battle

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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 murderous Bret Easton Ellis’s 2023 novel The Shards is a tragedy, an autofiction imaginarium of ’80s excess in which a serial killer and a murderous cult plague Ellis’s senior year of high school. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026 The singer plays a murderous aspiring actress in her new music video—with blood red hair. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 31 July 2026 Remember when there was a wave of filmmakers all trying to make murderous Steamboat Willie horror movies because the character had entered the public domain? — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 29 July 2026 And no, hating Zionism and this murderous thief is not hating Jews. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for murderous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murderous
  1. oppressive
  2. difficult
  3. lethal
  4. bloody
  5. harsh
  6. challenging
  7. deadly
  8. brutal
Adjective
  • Casablanca is another clear reference point for an episode in which a café serves as a locus of intrigue for a resistance group fighting against oppressive invaders.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Airport ground crews in hot climates can be exposed to oppressive heat, and airlines must protect their health.
    — Emma Balleste, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of oppressive
Adjective
  • The shortcomings of Usman and Dvalishvili, future Hall of Famers, only point to how difficult the historic mark was to reach.
    — Mark Puleo, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The Teamsters have been enthusiastically endorsing the bill specifically because, while 40-something employers would be difficult to collectively bargain against, DSP workers would be much easier to organize once within Amazon.
    — Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Nothing is perfect, as the conductor of potentially lethal vehicles that, in some ways, defy physics.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The church has no difficulty prescribing specifics when the subject is autonomous lethal weapons.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of lethal
Adjective
  • Just a bloody shard of metal on the ground in an empty house by the time the Lioness team gets to it.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Other reasons to consider getting medical attention would include bloody diarrhea, diarrhea lasting more than two days or a high fever above 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
    — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of bloody
Adjective
  • The documentary spotlighted some harsh criticisms of the show and of Banks.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Now, amid the harsh reality of NBA life for those on the fringes, Thompson is off to the security of a contract in Serbia, to play in the EuroLeague.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • The champion faced a challenging opponent, as Garry forced him to work hard for seven takedowns and inflicted some facial damage.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The current outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo Ebola virus, is unfolding in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of challenging
Adjective
  • Davis was charged with murder with the use of a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang.
    — Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Attacks on Wildberries’ warehouses last month killed at least eight people in a single day which, up until Monday’s strike on Nizhnekamsk, was the deadliest Ukrainian attack inside Russia.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of deadly
Adjective
  • What follows is a brutal fight for survival against aggressive, hungry, and carnivorous dinosaurs who quickly turn the community's previously idyllic streets into their own personal feeding ground.
    — Megan McCluskey, Time, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The company's earnings should also benefit from a better freight cycle, which has shown signs of improvement after a brutal multiyear recession that began in 2022.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of brutal

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murdering
murderous
murderousness
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Cite this Entry

“Murderous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murderous. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of murderous for Spanish Speakers

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