murderous
UK: ˈmɜːdərəs | US: ˈmɜːrdərəs
adj. capable of or intending to murder; lethally violent
adj. extremely fierce or aggressive
adj. (figuratively) intensely harmful or destructive
The word "murderous" combines "murder," derived from Old English morþor (meaning "secret killing" or "crime"), with the suffix "-ous," from Latin -osus (indicating "full of" or "having the quality of"). Over time, "murder" evolved in Middle English to its modern spelling, while "-ous" became a common suffix for forming adjectives. The fusion reflects a shift from literal killing to broader connotations of extreme violence or malice.
The murderer's eyes held a murderous glare.
The storm unleashed murderous winds that devastated the coast.
She gave him a murderous look after his rude remark.
The dictator ruled with a murderous regime.
The boxer delivered a murderous blow to his opponent.