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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death
braved murderous machine-gun fire to capture the hill from the enemy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of murderous
Orwell loathed Communism, especially the decades-long rule of Russia’s murderous dictator Joseph Stalin.
—
Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Nor should Iran earn gold stars for supporting its murderous network of allies that includes Hamas and Hezbollah.
—Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2026
Two weeks later, police say, those same hands pulled the trigger that took all of their lives and that of along with one of their cousins in a murderous spree that shocked Shreveport.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, Rosie is piecing together Sam’s true identity herself and learns of his murderous past.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for murderous
Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Nor should Iran earn gold stars for supporting its murderous network of allies that includes Hamas and Hezbollah.
—Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2026
Two weeks later, police say, those same hands pulled the trigger that took all of their lives and that of along with one of their cousins in a murderous spree that shocked Shreveport.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, Rosie is piecing together Sam’s true identity herself and learns of his murderous past.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for murderous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murderous
Adjective
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Beyond its pleasures as a noir, the chronicle of Kolechko’s fight against nascent Soviet power easily reminds one of present-day Ukraine’s struggle to preserve its dignity in the face of oppressive forces.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
-
But the sweltering, sticky, oppressive facepalm of summer doesn’t make the other seasons more palatable.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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When Thomson went through a difficult divorce, in 2014, Djena would often check in on her, showing up at her door with food.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Crow-Armstrong had just failed to make a highly difficult, leaping catch at the wall.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
No amount of positive thinking or healthy eating will keep an illness from doing potentially lethal harm.—
Tom Levenson,
Time,
20 May 2026
-
Bundibugyo is believed to replicate more slowly and appears to be slower to disable immune cells than other strains, research shows, and that may account for why outbreaks related to this strain have been less lethal.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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The scheme has been so successful, law enforcement has created a joint FBI-National Security Division task force to disrupt the operations and have dealt a series of harsh prison terms to American accomplices who have willingly aided the North Koreans.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
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To fully embody her OnlyFans persona, an earthside alien named The Hungry Ghost, who offers mild nudity and harsh criticism of her willing subscribers’ genitalia.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Essential in this most challenging of environments.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 May 2026
-
That’s what will make the job challenging and difficult.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Adjective
-
Hassane spoke at the afternoon news conference about the deadly attack at his institution this morning, decrying the conditions that could create such violence.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
19 May 2026
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The most severe form of Legionella bacteria infection leads to Legionnaires’ disease, a serious and potentially deadly type of pneumonia, the CDC says.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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The defense also used the recordings to suggest that Fuhrman may have planted the bloody glove to frame Simpson.—
Bonny Chu , Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
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Founding Fathers will go from the stirrings of revolution to the long and bloody fight for independence, and on into the early years of the American republic.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Oscar had shown me pages of this searing fiction periodically.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
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While ferocious heat dominates the region for much of the year, the Sky Islands remain cool thanks to their high elevation, providing the perfect escape from the searing weather below.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Murderous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murderous. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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