killer

1 of 2

noun

kill·​er ˈki-lər How to pronounce killer (audio)
Synonyms of killernext
1
: one that kills
2
3
a
: one that has a forceful, violent, or striking impact
b
: one that is extremely difficult to deal with

killer

2 of 2

adjective

1
: strikingly impressive or effective
a killer smile
a killer résumé
2
: extremely difficult to deal with
a killer fastball
also : causing death or devastation
a killer tornado

Examples of killer in a Sentence

Noun Heart disease is the leading killer of both men and women. The chemical is used as a weed killer. Adjective killer viruses that claimed millions of lives a killer exercise program guaranteed to whip you into shape
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Amazon pulled a similar trick, hiring Chris Hemsworth to imagine a series of dystopian scenarios in which his AI assistant turns into a sci-fi killer. Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 8 Feb. 2026 Much of the pressure comes from a killer interior line led by Milt Williams and Christian Barmore. Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026 After a serial killer attacks a Florida State University sorority house leaving multiple sisters dead, the stakes have never been higher. Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026 Despite heart disease being the number one killer of American women, women are underrepresented in clinical trials. Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for killer

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1939, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of killer was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Killer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/killer. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

killer

1 of 2 noun
ˈkil-ər
1
: one that kills
2

killer

2 of 2 adjective
1
: strikingly impressive or effective
a killer smile
2
: extremely difficult
a killer exam
also : causing death or devastation
a killer tornado

More from Merriam-Webster on killer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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