murderous

[mur-der-uhs]

adjective

1. of the nature of or involving murder.

   a murderous deed.

2. guilty of, bent on, or capable of murder.

3. extremely difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant.

   murderous heat.

murderous

/ ˈmɜːdərəs /

adjective

1. intending, capable of, or guilty of murder

2. informal,  very dangerous, difficult, or unpleasant

   a murderous road

Other Word Forms

• murderously adverb
• murderousness noun
• nonmurderous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of murderous¹

First recorded in 1525–35; murder + -ous

Example Sentences

But officials said that "terrorists attack all who reject their murderous ideology - Muslims, Christians and those of no faith alike".

Read more on BBC

Apparently, intentions—particularly of the sectarian and often murderous kind—may matter somewhat more in Syria than the authors allow.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

If there were a way to ensure that train travelers wouldn’t become the victims of the murderous rampage of a madman like Mr. Ferguson, somebody would have come up with it by now.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Berlin remains under vigilant watch, especially since a murderous 2016 jihadist attack at a Christmas market, when a truck mowed down a crowd, killing 12 people.

Read more on Barron's

The U.S. must also hold China accountable for being the world’s largest supporter of Russia’s murderous war in Ukraine—a war that has contributed to global instability, economic headwinds and higher food prices.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• brutal 
• cruel 
• dangerous 
• deadly 
• destructive 
• devastating 
• ferocious 
• lethal 
• ruinous 
• savage