1
as in oppressive
difficult to endure
the murderous heat of the desert
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of murderous
The scene in which Anderson single-handedly faces down both the corrupt deputy and the Klan’s most murderous henchman is a master class in range.
—
Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
Each season of the HBO drama has created breakout moments from Armand and Shane’s meltdowns in season one to Tanya being chased by murderous gay men in season two.
—Peter White, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2025
People think of Carrie as being frightening but, until its murderous finale at the high-school dance, the movie’s dread has little to do with gore or body count.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
Trauma resulting from over a century of honoring a racist, murderous, psychopath in a Black-majority community.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for murderous
Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
Each season of the HBO drama has created breakout moments from Armand and Shane’s meltdowns in season one to Tanya being chased by murderous gay men in season two.
—Peter White, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2025
People think of Carrie as being frightening but, until its murderous finale at the high-school dance, the movie’s dread has little to do with gore or body count.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
Trauma resulting from over a century of honoring a racist, murderous, psychopath in a Black-majority community.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for murderous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murderous
Adjective
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The triangle was turned right-side-up to show that gay people were standing up to oppressive forces.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
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My parents came here from Syria, carrying their stories of the oppressive regime there that made life unlivable.—
Armando Garcia,
ABC News,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But their happy romance is soon demolished when Jenny reappears in their lives, thrusting all three into a difficult and messy journey towards true accountability and adulthood.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
7 Mar. 2025
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These protein complexes are highly shape-shifting, making traditional imaging methods very difficult.—
Priyanka Naik,
The Conversation,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In 2023, Idaho authorized the firing squad as a method of execution if lethal injection drugs were not available.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
10 Mar. 2025
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After a 13-year pause while South Carolina struggled to obtain the drugs for lethal injections, the state has resumed executions.—
Jeffrey Collins,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Smith isn’t alone in that sentiment, as other analysts and critics have shared his harsh review of Bronny’s performance in the NBA.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
12 Mar. 2025
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Five years ago this week, the television industry rose to the challenge of keeping news, daytime and late-night talk shows and other topical series on the air during the harsh early months of the COVID pandemic.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Global hiring can offer a fresh solution in these challenging times.—
James Peters,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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Job resignations have slowed as workers perceive (and data supports) getting another job is more challenging.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Roya is fortunate, since the encounter on the road in 2017 could have turned deadly or at least subverted her quest to teach girls coding and other tech skills.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
7 Mar. 2025
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Officers are often justified in using deadly force, as the grand jury concluded, but that carries public accountability, too.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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After watching in terror as a man violently attacked a police officer in an El Cajon fast-food restaurant, Iesha Booker checked for a pulse on the bloody, unconscious officer and yelled into the radio on his belt.—
Karen Kucher,
sandiegouniontribune.com,
19 July 2017
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Photos of the man in a hospital bed with a bloody mouth were also posted.—
Jonece Starr Dunigan,
AL.com,
14 July 2017
Adjective
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Last year, Love penned a searing op-ed in The Guardian about the lack of female artists in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
5 Mar. 2025
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If Demi Moore wasn’t going to win for her career-reviving performance in the horror satire The Substance, then surely British voters would reward Marianne Jean-Baptiste for her searing depiction of depression in Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths.—
Sarah Crompton,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Murderous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murderous. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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