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 Through the help of new and old audio tapes and Manson family members, Berlinger argues that the murderous rampage began with a botched drug deal by a man named Bobby Beausoleil. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 Her laments are now laced with fury, as genocidal wars and murderous technologies join global warming in the twenty-first century’s third decade. — Literary Hub, 6 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 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
  • However, a time has come where the weight of those dreams and ambitions has become surprisingly oppressive.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Aug. 2026
  • About the jail conditions The Sunday afternoon heat surrounding volunteers contrasts with what detainees describe as an oppressive cold inside.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of oppressive
Adjective
  • The California Board of Pharmacy in 2025 reversed course on regulations that would have made the supplement more difficult to acquire after pushback from some firefighters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Striking out on her own was a difficult transition, but embracing her solitude gave her the space to learn more about herself and make her own personal decisions, such as getting her cat or making meals of her choosing.
    — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Experts say the trend does not indicate the virus has become more lethal.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • So, while users might be safe inside their homes or vehicles, taking a few steps outside to wait for the sensors to register danger might be a potentially lethal sojourn.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of lethal
Adjective
  • Robinson, who later served as governor of Kansas during the bloody conflicts leading up to the Civil War, devoted a chapter of his autobiography to the events of that day.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of bloody
Adjective
  • It has been said that the Moon is a harsh mistress, and nowhere is this more apparent than at the lunar south pole.
    — Space.com Staff, Space.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Maybe, then, Bohm is a lesson for even the harshest skeptics.
    — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • Sharing her new life on social media helped give Hoadley a sense of empowerment despite her challenging circumstances.
    — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter Carson McCullers’ remarkable debut novel tells a story of the American South, one set in Georgia and peopled with a cast of characters that exist in a rich, layered, and challenging reality.
    — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of challenging
Adjective
  • Many residents on Flores island in East Nusa Tenggara province spent the day mourning victims and waiting for aid to arrive to communities still cut off by the deadly quake.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Reuters — The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 2,325 people, government data showed on Sunday, surpassing the toll from the 2018-2020 outbreak to become the deadliest in the country’s history.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of deadly
Adjective
  • The Braves have Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy atop their catching depth chart, but a brutal injury setback involving veteran backstop Sandy Leon has now forced the organization to seek out another experienced option.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Micron, as well as South Korea's SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics — the world's three major DRAM producers — had competed largely on price, contributing to the brutal boom-and-bust cycles that have long characterized the industry.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of brutal

Browse Nearby Words

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 23 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of murderous for Spanish Speakers

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