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Murderous: meaning, definitions and examples

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murderous

 

[ ˈmɜːrdərəs ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

describing behavior

Murderous refers to a tendency or inclination to commit murder or to exhibit grave, violent, or deadly intent. It can also describe an atmosphere or situation that is extremely dangerous or lethal.

Synonyms

deadly, homicidal, lethal, violent

Examples of usage

  • The murderous intent of the plot surprised everyone.
  • She escaped from the murderous gang in the nick of time.
  • The film depicted a murderous rampage through the city.
  • His murderous rage led him to unspeakable acts.

Translations

Translations of the word "murderous" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mortal

🇮🇳 हत्या करने वाला

🇩🇪 mörderisch

🇮🇩 membunuh

🇺🇦 вбивчий

🇵🇱 morderczy

🇯🇵 殺人的

🇫🇷 meurtrier

🇪🇸 asesino

🇹🇷 katil

🇰🇷 살인적인

🇸🇦 قاتل

🇨🇿 vražedný

🇸🇰 vražedný

🇨🇳 谋杀的

🇸🇮 murderous

🇮🇸 morðingjar

🇰🇿 қасіретті

🇬🇪 მკვლელური

🇦🇿 qətl

🇲🇽 asesino

Etymology

The word 'murderous' originates from the Middle English word 'murderous,' which comes from the Old French term 'mordr' and dates back to the Latin 'mortar' from the verb 'mordere,' meaning 'to bite.' By the 14th century, the term evolved in English to describe something related to or inclined towards murder. The prefix 'mur-' related to 'murder' emphasizes the thematic connection to killing, while the suffix '-ous' indicates that it is an adjective describing a quality. The evolution of the word reflects changing attitudes towards violence and crime in society, making 'murderous' not just a descriptor of actions but also a characterization of deeply harmful intents and atmospheres.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,367, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.