murderous

Adjective

murderous (comparative more murderous, superlative most murderous)

1. Of, characterized by, or pertaining to murder or murderers.
   • Aſſaſſinat: m. A murther, or murtherous act committed for gaine, or in hope of a revvard; alſo, a ſuddaine aſſault, made of ſet purpoſe, and vvith a murtherous intent, although th' aſſaulted be not killed.1611, Randle Cotgrave, compiler, “Assassinat”, in A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, signature G, recto, column 2
   • Every time I heard the bell strike, that denotes the time on board a ship, I full of terror counted the hours until four o'clock; feeling sure that when that hour came, my enemies would begin their murderous attack.1878 October, “A Tussle with Yellow Jack”, in G[eorge] Bampfield, editor, S. Andrew’s Magazine, volume I, number 10, London: Burns & Oates, […], →OCLC, page 1
2. Of a person: intending or likely to commit murder; bloodthirsty, homicidal.
   • murderous behaviour
   • She gave me a murderous look.

   Synonyms:

   assassinous

   Antonyms:

   nonmurderous, unmurderous

3. (figuratively, often) Of an object: used to commit murder; capable of causing death; deadly, fatal.
   • The rapid ſquadrons ſwift as thought engage, / And ſeek the hoſtile troops who ſhun their rage, / 'Midſt the thick clouds which ſmoak and duſt afford / With dreadful luſtre gleams the murderous ſword; […]1782, [Frederick the Great], “Book VI”, in [anonymous], transl., The Art of War; […] Translated from the French of the King of Prussia, 2nd edition, London: […] G. Riley, […], →OCLC, page 56
   • In neceſſary ſelf-defence men have a right to kill their aſſailants. But duelling is unlawful and murderous, a remain of the ancient Gothic barbarity.1796, John Brown, “Of the Law of Nature”, in A Compendious View of Natural and Revealed Religion. […], 2nd edition, Edinburgh: […] Murray & Cochrane, →OCLC, book I (Of the Regulating Standard of...

   Antonyms:

   nonmurderous, unmurderous

4. (broadly) Very difficult.
   • a murderous exam
   • conditions were murderous

   Synonyms:

   killing, arduous, challenging, nasty, difficult, sticky, effortful, hard, rough, rocky

   Antonyms:

   as a duck takes to water, basic, easy, prosaic, no-fuss, easy as 123, easy as ABC, easy as cake, easy as pie, easy as falling off a log