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
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
EW.com, 28 June 2025
Working with you seems complex Beyond confusion there’s another killer: complexity.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
This season is also resurrecting Dexter’s classic move to keep us interested: introducing invigorating new cast members, in this case Peter Dinklage as a serial killer collector and Uma Thurman as what appears to be his assistant.
—Emily Temple
june 27, Literary Hub, 27 June 2025
That’s why some people call the disease—which will affect more than 313,000 men in the U.S. in 2025—a silent killer.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for killer
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The first film saw Pattinson's Dark Knight tangoing with the Riddler (Paul Dano), a serial killer plaguing Gotham City.
—EW.com, 28 June 2025
Working with you seems complex Beyond confusion there’s another killer: complexity.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
This season is also resurrecting Dexter’s classic move to keep us interested: introducing invigorating new cast members, in this case Peter Dinklage as a serial killer collector and Uma Thurman as what appears to be his assistant.
—Emily Temple
june 27, Literary Hub, 27 June 2025
That’s why some people call the disease—which will affect more than 313,000 men in the U.S. in 2025—a silent killer.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for killer
Cite this Entry
“Killer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/killer. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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