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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
I can't stand this murderous heat. The lead runner set a murderous pace.
Recent Examples on the Web Playing a classic villain like the arrogant, chauvinist and murderous Gaston was an opportunity for Penny to showcase a different ability while stepping into a character utterly different from himself. 
Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 The vengeful and murderous outlaw Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels) is hot on his heels, killing anyone who gets in his way. Sophie Hanson, Harper's BAZAAR, 24 June 2022 The Summer of Rage was at least sparked initially by an ugly and murderous incident. Gerard Baker, WSJ, 9 May 2022 Russia's slow advance has evolved into a murderous war of attrition as its forces bombard civilian residencies. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 16 Mar. 2022 The show’s primary antagonist, however, is Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke), a zealot associated with the god Ammit on a righteous (at least for him) mission that turns murderous. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2022 The Pope, in his many public statements during the war, made no direct reference to the Nazis’ murderous campaign against European Jews. Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2021 Duterte regime's controversial, murderous anti-drug campaign. Harold Maass, The Week, 8 Oct. 2021 For those who disliked Daenerys Targaryen’s descent into murderous madness, any series set in the same universe has a lot of work to do to win back their loyalty. Sean T. Collins, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2022 See More
Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 The vengeful and murderous outlaw Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels) is hot on his heels, killing anyone who gets in his way. Sophie Hanson, Harper's BAZAAR, 24 June 2022 The Summer of Rage was at least sparked initially by an ugly and murderous incident. Gerard Baker, WSJ, 9 May 2022 Russia's slow advance has evolved into a murderous war of attrition as its forces bombard civilian residencies. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 16 Mar. 2022 The show’s primary antagonist, however, is Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke), a zealot associated with the god Ammit on a righteous (at least for him) mission that turns murderous. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2022 The Pope, in his many public statements during the war, made no direct reference to the Nazis’ murderous campaign against European Jews. Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2021 Duterte regime's controversial, murderous anti-drug campaign. Harold Maass, The Week, 8 Oct. 2021 For those who disliked Daenerys Targaryen’s descent into murderous madness, any series set in the same universe has a lot of work to do to win back their loyalty. Sean T. Collins, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
murderous
adjective
mur·der·ous ˈmər-də-rəs
1
: intending or capable of causing murder : deadly
a murderous attack
2
: very hard to bear or withstand
murderous heat
murderous
adjective
1
as in oppressive
difficult to endure the murderous heat of the desert Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- oppressive
- brutal
- harsh
- searing
- tough
- cruel
- severe
- rough
- inhuman
- grim
- trying
- hard
- heavy
- bitter
- painful
- onerous
- grievous
- burdensome
- bleak
- excruciating
- rugged
- stiff
- unpleasant
- unbearable
- uncomfortable
- inhospitable
- forbidding
- hardhanded
- bad
- intemperate
- crushing
- strict
- rigorous
- wild
- spartan
- overwhelming
- tortuous
- stringent
- agonizing
- biting
- hostile
- wretched
- austere
- insufferable
- intolerable
- inclement
- discomforting
- grinding
- comfortless
- harrowing
- heartbreaking
- unendurable
- unfriendly
- disagreeable
- insupportable
- wearing
- heartrending
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- light
- soft
- easy
- friendly
- peaceful
- luxurious
- genial
- pleasant
- comfortable
- agreeable
- hospitable
- cozy
- mild
- gentle
- moderate
- tolerable
- restful
- relaxing
- snug
- calm
- temperate
- bearable
- painless
- balmy
- endurable
- reposeful
- clement
2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort those exams were murderous Synonyms & Similar Words
- difficult
- challenging
- tough
- formidable
- demanding
- rigorous
- heavy
- complicated
- killer
- hard
- sweaty
- rough
- severe
- rugged
- testing
- exacting
- strenuous
- arduous
- effortful
- tall
- painful
- grueling
- exhausting
- intricate
- backbreaking
- herculean
- laborious
- uphill
- brutal
- hellacious
- complex
- serious
- oppressive
- stiff
- toilsome
- annoying
- moiling
- grim
- gruelling
- stubborn
- problematic
- elusive
- bruising
- involved
- pick-and-shovel
- troublesome
- cruel
- hairy
- thorny
- abstract
- inhuman
- spiny
- stressful
- vexatious
- onerous
- taxing
- tricky
- burdensome
- problematical
- abstruse
- recondite
- Augean
- irksome
- tight
- opaque
- knotty
- insoluble
- trying
- bothersome
- labored
- strict
- ticklish
- grievous
- distressing
- stringent
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- mindless
- light
- simple
- soft
- easy
- cheap
- effortless
- undemanding
- uncomplicated
- clear
- gentle
- facile
- elementary
- achievable
- smooth
- doable
- friendly
- soothing
- comforting
- relaxed
- painless
- manageable
- accessible
- idiotproof
- user-friendly
3
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death braved murderous machine-gun fire to capture the hill from the enemy Synonyms & Similar Words
- lethal
- deadly
- poisonous
- fatal
- infectious
- killer
- infective
- harmful
- dangerous
- toxic
- destructive
- deathly
- terminal
- mortal
- pernicious
- fell
- baleful
- pestilent
- virulent
- hazardous
- injurious
- deleterious
- noxious
- menacing
- perilous
- baneful
- bloody
- threatening
- vital
- ugly
- serious
- pestilential
- risky
- truculent
- sanguinary
- unhealthy
- sublethal
- jeopardizing
- grave
- grievous
- internecine
- parlous
- unsound
- sanguine
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nonfatal
- healthful
- wholesome
- beneficial
- healthy
- nonlethal
- salubrious
- corrective
- restorative
- salutary
- beneficial
- remedial
- curative
- tonic
- advantageous
- useful
- nonpoisonous
- safe
- alleviative
- nontoxic
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- murdering
- savage
- brutal
- bloody
- bloodthirsty
- violent
- vicious
- homicidal
- ferocious
- sanguinary
- fierce
- cruel
- ruthless
- sanguineous
- contentious
- sadistic
- merciless
- bloody-minded
- aggressive
- sanguine
- barbarous
- barbaric
- hateful
- heartless
- hostile
- inhumane
- antagonistic
- malicious
- pitiless
- bellicose
- belligerent
- wanton
- malevolent
- pugnacious
- truculent
- malignant
- spiteful
- gladiatorial
- combative
- cold-blooded
- quarrelsome
- grim
- bloodstained
- assertive
- scrappy
- gory
- discordant
- malign
- fell
- nasty
- despiteful
- mean
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- peaceful
- peaceable
- sympathetic
- disarming
- conciliatory
- pacific
- benign
- kind
- placatory
- compassionate
- humane
- unaggressive
- unassertive
- propitiatory
- warm
- benevolent
- benignant
- kindhearted
- merciful
- dovish
- appeasing
- mollifying
- placative
- placating
- peacemaking
- amiable
- tenderhearted
- pacifying
- lenient
- gentle
- warmhearted
- good-hearted
- affable
- clement
- amicable
- tender
- kindly
- submissive
- surrendering
- yielding