killer

A person who kills another person.

• The police caught the killer.
• She recognized the killer’s face.
• Investigators believe the same killer attacked both victims.

Similar words: murderer

Common phrases: serial killer, catch the killer, convicted killer

Something that causes people or animals to die.

• This disease is a major killer.
• Carbon monoxide is often called a silent killer.
• Lightning can be a killer during summer storms.

Common phrases: a silent killer, a major killer, a deadly killer

Something extremely difficult, tiring, or likely to cause failure.

• That exam was a killer.
• The final hill was a real killer.
• Working two jobs is an absolute killer.

How to use it: a killer of a something (We had a killer of a climb before reaching the lake.)

Similar words: nightmare

Common phrases: a real killer, an absolute killer, killer of something

A product or service so much better than others that people stop using them.

• This cheap device could be a laptop killer.
• Streaming services became CD killers.
• The company hopes its new phone will be an iPhone killer.

Common phrases: a rival killer, a category killer

Something that is extremely exciting or enjoyable.

• That concert was a real killer.
• Their last song was an absolute killer.
• Was the show a killer?

Similar words: blast

Common phrases: a real killer, an absolute killer

Extremely good or impressive.

• She has a killer smile.
• He played a killer guitar solo.
• Where did you get that killer outfit?

Similar words: excellent, great, awesome

Opposites: terrible

Common phrases: killer smile, killer song, killer outfit

Able or likely to cause death.

• Killer bees attacked the farmer.
• Scientists are studying a killer virus.
• The killer storm destroyed several villages.

Similar words: deadly, lethal

Common phrases: killer bees, killer virus, killer storm, killer disease