murderous

adjective

mur·​der·​ous ˈmər-d(ə-)rəs 

1

a

: having the purpose or capability of murder

b

: characterized by or causing murder or bloodshed

2

: having the ability or power to overwhelm : devastating

murderous heat

murderously adverb

murderousness noun

Synonyms

• bitter
• brutal
• burdensome
• cruel
• excruciating
• grievous
• grim
• hard
• hardhanded
• harsh
• heavy
• inhuman
• onerous
• oppressive
• rough
• rugged
• searing
• severe
• stiff
• tough
• trying

Examples of murderous in a Sentence

I can't stand this murderous heat.

The lead runner set a murderous pace.

Recent Examples on the Web

Along with Husk and Bob Mathews—the founder of a murderous underground white supremacist guerrilla outfit that counterfeited money and robbed banks and armored cars, played by Nicholas Hoult—The Turner Diaries is the third major character in The Order. —Ali Winston, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024

Ohio’s governor and officials condemn it Some marchers carried black flags emblazoned with red swastikas, a notorious symbol of hate, antisemitism and White supremacy tracing to the murderous legacy of Germany’s Nazi Party and the Holocaust. —Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024

Then a smuggler sealed him into a trailer, swaddled within sound-muffling insulation beneath a murderous Texan sun. —Kayla Aletha Welch, Longreads, 19 Nov. 2024

Watch on Deadline The series showcases dueling patriarchs, high-finance scams, murderous drug cartels, and government corruption, while also depicting the emotional decades-long father-son struggle over the boundaries of loyalty and love. —Peter White, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

murderous

adjective

mur·​der·​ous ˈmərd-(ə-)rəs 

1

: intending or capable of causing murder or bloodshed : deadly

murderous machine-gun fire

2

: very difficult to bear or withstand

a murderous glance

murderous heat

murderously adverb