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

Derived Forms

• ˈmurderously, adverb
• ˈmurderousness, noun

Other Words From

• murder·ous·ly adverb
• murder·ous·ness noun
• non·murder·ous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of murderous¹

First recorded in 1525–35; murder + -ous

Example Sentences

And a big lecture from Grant’s murderous Mr. Reed about how they were exactly where they wanted to be.

From Los Angeles Times

You can’t launch a film in which a man obsessed with the power of religion turns out to be a murderous lunatic intent on lecturing two young women on choice without expecting some kind of reaction beyond “Hugh Grant in a career-best role!”

From Los Angeles Times

Cowboys, murderous revenge plots and family secrets have kept Yellowstone fans hooked since 2018.

From BBC

The 1992 film sees Todd's character accidentally summoned to the real world by a graduate student in Chicago intrigued by the urban legend of the Candyman, setting off a chain of murderous events.

From BBC

Kamala Harris meanwhile called the Russian president "a murderous dictator".

From BBC

Related Words

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