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

Aping the fastidious wartime geolocation of videos shot by Islamic State forces, Russian military units, and other murderous pariahs, the intrepid Bellingcat detective further pin-points Ammon’s hidey-hole with the aid of mountaineering-app PeakVisor, Google Earth, and Google Street View. —Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024

But to chortle with a murderous, anti-American dictator over a former vice president . . —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 5 Nov. 2024

Haze's character Krelborn, an employee at an impoverished florist shop, finds himself at the center of a murderous enterprise when the strange plant he's been growing requires blood for nourishment. —Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024

However, the Penguin’s murderous jealousy towards his brothers is surely a bad sign for Victor (Rhenzy Feliz), who shared a dance with Oz’s mother before she was abducted. —Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 4 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