1
as in oppressive
difficult to endure
the murderous heat of the desert
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2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
those exams were murderous
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3
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death
braved murderous machine-gun fire to capture the hill from the enemy
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4
as in murdering
eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, extreme violence, or killing
Viking warriors became legendary for the murderous fury they displayed in battle
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of murderous
The scene in which Anderson single-handedly faces down both the corrupt deputy and the Klan’s most murderous henchman is a master class in range.
—
Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
Each season of the HBO drama has created breakout moments from Armand and Shane’s meltdowns in season one to Tanya being chased by murderous gay men in season two.
—Peter White, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2025
People think of Carrie as being frightening but, until its murderous finale at the high-school dance, the movie’s dread has little to do with gore or body count.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
Trauma resulting from over a century of honoring a racist, murderous, psychopath in a Black-majority community.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for murderous
Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
Each season of the HBO drama has created breakout moments from Armand and Shane’s meltdowns in season one to Tanya being chased by murderous gay men in season two.
—Peter White, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2025
People think of Carrie as being frightening but, until its murderous finale at the high-school dance, the movie’s dread has little to do with gore or body count.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
Trauma resulting from over a century of honoring a racist, murderous, psychopath in a Black-majority community.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for murderous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murderous
Adjective
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This gripping series takes viewers into insidious modern-day cults through the unique lens of members who endured unspeakable trauma and the shocking investigations into these oppressive groups.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2025
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Dominic Frey is a member of the oppressive class and everything Silas should despise — but now their mutual discretion is all that’s keeping them from punishment for their crimes of passion.—
Olivia Waite,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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On the other hand lies the more difficult but ultimately more promising path: repudiation of that post-2008 legacy and a conscientious return to a politics of the prudential center.—
Newsweek,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
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But daylight saving time throws that natural cycle a bit out of whack, and that can be particularly difficult for kids.—
Dina Roth Port,
Parents,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The Minderoo Foundation, founded in 2001 and co-led by Forrest and his wife from whom he is separated, has come to fund everything from efforts to address lethal humidity to climate migration.—
Justin Worland,
TIME,
25 Feb. 2025
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Glossip nearly receives lethal injection Glossip has had nine separate execution dates scheduled and has nearly been executed several times.—
Sean Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Unlike Western cleansers, which often rely on harsh surfactants or astringent ingredients, Korean ones maintain the skin’s moisture barrier and natural pH balance, says Cho.—
Denise Primbet,
Glamour,
28 Feb. 2025
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Her lyric vocal writing contends with harsh reality, but her style is never far from profound rapture.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This can be a challenging variable to track, given that there were insufficient details about the victim's mental health status in approximately 30% of incidents, Rad said.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA TODAY,
27 Feb. 2025
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With a very small majority, and assuming united Democratic opposition, finding House votes in support of a final budget package will be very challenging.—
Richard McGahey,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Officers are often justified in using deadly force, as the grand jury concluded, but that carries public accountability, too.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2025
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Related article Inside the perfect storm of the deadly measles outbreak in Texas Also Friday, the New Mexico Department of Health reported 30 measles cases in Lea County, 20 more than had previously been identified in the state.—
Neha Mukherjee,
CNN,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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After watching in terror as a man violently attacked a police officer in an El Cajon fast-food restaurant, Iesha Booker checked for a pulse on the bloody, unconscious officer and yelled into the radio on his belt.—
Karen Kucher,
sandiegouniontribune.com,
19 July 2017
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Photos of the man in a hospital bed with a bloody mouth were also posted.—
Jonece Starr Dunigan,
AL.com,
14 July 2017
Adjective
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Hackman’s searing turn as the hyper, gum-smacking Doyle in the documentary-style French Connection distinguished him as a leading man.—
Duane Byrge,
The Hollywood Reporter,
27 Feb. 2025
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Bouchard’s five-on-five on-ice outscoring is a searing total.—
Allan Mitchell,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Murderous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murderous. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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