homicidal

adjective

ho·​mi·​cid·​al ˌhä-mə-ˈsī-dᵊl  ˌhō- 

: of, relating to, or tending toward homicide

homicidally

ˌhä-mə-ˈsī-dᵊl-ē 

ˌhō-

adverb

Synonyms

• bloodthirsty
• bloody
• bloody-minded
• murdering
• murderous
• sanguinary
• sanguine
• sanguineous

Examples of homicidal in a Sentence

court-appointed psychiatrists have described the accused as a sociopath with homicidal tendencies who is a danger to himself and others

Recent Examples on the Web

Even after Kissinger left power, his playbook remained open well into the 1980s with the Reagan administration’s cosseting of homicidal right-wing regimes like El Salvador’s and Guatemala’s. —Tim Padgett, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2024

Feeding into Milioti’s volatile performance, her costumes chart a journey from obedient heiress to homicidal mob boss, culminating in her violent retribution against Oz in the show’s penultimate episode. —Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024

Their idea involved merciless kills, a chainsaw, a group of youths and a homicidal family with a craving for human flesh; all set against the backdrop of a sunny, countryside day giving way to a nightmarish evening. —Sydney Bishop, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024

At first, Art seems shell-shocked by Sienna’s power, but soon regains his mischievous homicidal urges. —Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

homicidal

adjective

ho·​mi·​cid·​al ˌhäm-ə-ˈsīd-ᵊl 

ˌhō-mə-

: of, relating to, or having tendencies toward the killing of another person : murderous

homicidally

-ˈsīd-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Medical Definition

homicidal

adjective

ho·​mi·​cid·​al ˌhäm-ə-ˈsīd-ᵊl  ˌhō-mə- 

: of, relating to, or tending toward homicide

homicidally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Legal Definition

homicidal

adjective

ho·​mi·​ci·​dal ˌhä-mə-ˈsīd-ᵊl, ˌhō- 

: of, relating to, or tending toward homicide