murderous

adjective

mur·​der·​ous ˈmər-d(ə-)rəs How to pronounce murderous (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The inmates, all of whom have been convicted of murderous crimes, have become close with a group of contemplative Catholic nuns who live half an hour away, in a convent in Waco. Daniel Zalewski, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025 Swastikas are a notorious symbol of hate, antisemitism and White supremacy tracing to the murderous legacy of Germany’s Nazi Party and the Holocaust. Alaa Elassar, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025 Even as the goal evolved from keeping the Sims alive to creating a sandbox for the players to experiment in, many who have played The Sims have a murderous anecdote. Sara Belcher, People.com, 5 Feb. 2025 It was not known what caused Lino, who lives in the Bronx, to fly into a murderous rage, but police had twice filed domestic incident reports after responding to arguments between the suspect and his mother, prosecutors said at his arraignment. Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for murderous 

Word History

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of murderous was in 1535

Dictionary Entries Near murderous

Cite this Entry

“Murderous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/murderous. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

murderous

adjective
mur·​der·​ous ˈmərd-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce murderous (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on murderous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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