1
: one that kills
2
3
a
: one that has a forceful, violent, or striking impact
b
: one that is extremely difficult to deal with
1
: strikingly impressive or effective
a killer smile
a killer résumé
2
: extremely difficult to deal with
a killer fastball
also
: causing death or devastation
a killer tornado
Synonyms
Examples of killer in a Sentence
Noun
Heart disease is the leading killer of both men and women.
The chemical is used as a weed killer.
Adjective
killer viruses that claimed millions of lives
a killer exercise program guaranteed to whip you into shape
Recent Examples on the Web
Christine Clarridge, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
Lead actor Nathan Meister returns to the role of Henry Oldfield, the sheep-phobic son of a farmer who discovers his twisted older brother has been carrying out dangerous genetic experiences on his livestock, which transform them from docile vegetarians to ruthless, carnivorous killers.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
The real killer, though, is Nicholas Hoult’s Justin Kemp, a writer with a history of alcoholism who just so happens to be a member of the jury.
—Tomris Laffly, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024
Others believed former school teacher John Mark Karr, who confessed to the 1996 strangulation in 2006, as a prime suspect; the family housekeeper Linda Hoffman-Pugh; or the town’s Santa Claus Bill McReynolds as the potential killer.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for killer 
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Noun
His brother, Richard A. Jones is a U.S. District Court judge who has presided over a number of high profile cases in his long career, including that of the state's most prolific serial killer, Gary Ridgway.
—Christine Clarridge, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
Lead actor Nathan Meister returns to the role of Henry Oldfield, the sheep-phobic son of a farmer who discovers his twisted older brother has been carrying out dangerous genetic experiences on his livestock, which transform them from docile vegetarians to ruthless, carnivorous killers.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
The real killer, though, is Nicholas Hoult’s Justin Kemp, a writer with a history of alcoholism who just so happens to be a member of the jury.
—Tomris Laffly, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024
Others believed former school teacher John Mark Karr, who confessed to the 1996 strangulation in 2006, as a prime suspect; the family housekeeper Linda Hoffman-Pugh; or the town’s Santa Claus Bill McReynolds as the potential killer.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for killer
Dictionary Entries Near killer
Cite this Entry
“Killer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/killer. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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