murderous
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
describing a person who wants to kill someone, or a look that shows great anger and a desire to hurt.
describing a person who intends to commit murder, or an expression indicating homicidal rage.
Simple“He gave his rival a murderous look when he lost the competition.”
In context“The dictator was known for his murderous intent toward anyone who dared to challenge his absolute authority.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
connected to the crime of killing someone.
pertaining to, characterized by, or involving the act of murder.
Simple“The police investigated the murderous attack that happened in the park.”
In context“The gang was responsible for a murderous campaign of violence that terrorized the local community for months.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
very hard to deal with, or causing a lot of physical pain and tiredness.
extremely arduous, grueling, or difficult to endure; often used to describe physical heat or intense work.
Simple“The players had to practice in the murderous heat of the afternoon sun.”
In context“After a murderous twelve-hour shift at the hospital, the exhausted nurse could barely stand.”
UsageOften used to describe weather conditions or intense physical schedules.
Synonyms
From murder + -ous (suffix forming adjectives from nouns denoting possession or presence of a quality).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.