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
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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
Celie becomes increasingly fixated on the idea of having her own murderous affair, until nothing can stop her from pursuing her deadliest fantasies.
—
Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
As carefully chronicled by historian Greg Grandin, Washington’s murderous interventionism in Latin America regularly found justification in hyperbolized or utterly fictional accounts of the region’s poverty, crime, drug trafficking, and general disorder.
—Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
But Callahan, sensing their murderous intent, turns himself in to the police station.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Dec. 2025
From horrifying films about a snowman's murderous rampage and folkloric Christmas demons who terrorize not-so-nice families to comedies with a bit of edge and raunchy humor, these titles would certainly make Santa's naughty list.
—Lydia Price, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for murderous
Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
As carefully chronicled by historian Greg Grandin, Washington’s murderous interventionism in Latin America regularly found justification in hyperbolized or utterly fictional accounts of the region’s poverty, crime, drug trafficking, and general disorder.
—Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
But Callahan, sensing their murderous intent, turns himself in to the police station.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Dec. 2025
From horrifying films about a snowman's murderous rampage and folkloric Christmas demons who terrorize not-so-nice families to comedies with a bit of edge and raunchy humor, these titles would certainly make Santa's naughty list.
—Lydia Price, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for murderous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murderous
Adjective
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Perhaps in Iran, which has been engulfed by mass protests, leading the president to threaten action against an oppressive regime that has bedeviled the United States for nearly half a century.—
Jonathan Lemire,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
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Inside, there’s a plush bed, a cushioned chair, and an open wardrobe stocked with robes—essential for cooling down during the oppressive afternoon heat between game drives.—
Nicholas DeRenzo,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Business leaders, of course, have their own interests and shareholders to serve, but Democrats can still protect the public interest while giving CEOs a seat at the table to reach pragmatic answers to difficult questions like these.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
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Activist groups say hundreds of people have been killed, though the true toll remains difficult to verify due to the internet blackout and tight state controls on information.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The federal officer with the less than lethal weapon can be seen pointing it at Rummler.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Almost always in these cases, an officer facing down a moving two-ton conveyance will have a fraction of a second to decide if a lethal threat exists.—
Laurence Miller,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Cisco positions the same rugged networking technology used in Parkie for other harsh environments, including factories, logistics hubs, and outdoor industrial sites.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Fabrics that aren't made for harsh weather conditions, especially cotton and linen, are prone to absorbing moisture, causing mold, mildew, and water stains.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But advocates say this year has been the most challenging.—
Ubah Ali,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Purple proved to be the most challenging.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Burbank Police Department also shared a security camera video from the deadly shootout.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Rock jetties can be deadly in such conditions, stay off the rocks.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Responding officers found bloody items in a nearby dumpster and spoke with neighbors who recalled seeing Ali before the police arrived.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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The killings came amid a wave of bloody violence tied to drug trafficking and organized crime, which has surged across Ecuador in recent years.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In addition to telling the stories of several veterans, the film also examines how the Greatest Generation’s searing experiences of World War II, the Holocaust and the battle against fascism in Europe shaped American culture from the late 1940s to the present day.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
15 Jan. 2026
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Stone’s pass from the left corner of the zone toward the middle of the blue line found Marner, who skated into a vast expanse to deliver a searing wrister from the inner part of the right circle.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Murderous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murderous. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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