killer
killer
Pronunciation
The IPA transcription for killer is: /ˈkɪl.ər/
Sound Breakdown by Syllable
Syllable 1: /kɪl/
/k/: A voiceless velar plosive (the sharp "k" sound).
/ɪ/: A near-close near-front unrounded vowel (the short "i" sound as in "bit").
/l/: An alveolar lateral approximant (the "l" sound).
Syllable 2: /ər/
/ə/: A schwa vowel (the neutral, unstressed "uh" sound).
/r/: An alveolar approximant (the "r" sound, often rhotacized in American English).
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: killer
Plural Noun: killers
Adjective: killer (used attributively, e.g., "a killer instinct")
Verb (Slang/Informal): killer (less common, usually "kill")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A person, animal, or thing that causes death; can also refer to something that is particularly difficult, impressive, or exhausting.
Synonyms: murderer, assassin, slayer, executioner; (informal) beast, challenge.
Antonyms: savior, life-giver, protector, healer.
Adjective
Definition: Describing something that is exceptionally effective, striking, or formidable; it can also describe something that is extremely painful or arduous.
Synonyms: formidable, devastating, lethal, impressive, expert, grueling.
Antonyms: mediocre, weak, harmless, easy, amateur.
Examples of Use
Literature and Books
"The killer leaned against the wall, checking the action on his pistol with a practiced, mechanical indifference that chilled the room." (Thomas Harris, Red Dragon)
"It was a killer of a winter, the kind that froze the pipes deep underground and kept the town isolated for months." (Stephen King, The Shining)
Newspapers and Journalism
"The defendant was described by prosecutors as a cold-blooded killer who showed no remorse during the duration of the trial." (The New York Times, September 2024)
"The sudden rise in interest rates has proven to be a silent killer for small businesses struggling to maintain cash flow." (The Wall Street Journal, June 2025)
Online Publications and Blogs
"To succeed in this competitive market, you need a killer app that solves a specific problem better than anything else currently available." (TechCrunch, February 2024)
"Scientists have identified a new strain of 'bee killer' fungus that is threatening local hives across the Pacific Northwest." (National Geographic Online, November 2023)
Entertainment Mediums (Film, TV, and Music)
"You’ve got a killer instinct, kid. Don’t let them take that away from you." (Dialogue from Creed III)
"He's a stone-cold killer, but he's the only one who can get us across the border alive." (Dialogue from Sicario)
"Psycho Killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?" (Lyrics by Talking Heads, Talking Heads: 77)
General Public Discourse and Platforms
"That workout was an absolute killer; I don't think I'll be able to walk tomorrow morning." (Social Media Post, Instagram)
"If you want to land that job, you need to walk in there with a killer resume and a confident attitude." (Career Advice Forum, Reddit)
"The heatwave last week was a total killer for the community garden; we lost almost half the tomato crop." (Community Newsletter, May 2025)
10 Famous Quotes Using Killer
"Fear is the mind-killer." (Frank Herbert, Dune)
"I'm a killer, a murdering bastard." (David Carradine as Bill, Kill Bill: Vol. 2)
"She's a killer queen, gunpowder, gelatine, dynamite with a laser beam." (Freddie Mercury, Killer Queen)
"The killer inside me is the same as the killer inside you." (Jim Thompson, The Killer Inside Me)
"Everyone is a potential killer." (Agatha Christie, Curtain: Poirot's Last Case)
"Success is the best killer of all." (Original)
"Be the killer of your own doubts." (Original)
"A killer rabbit appears in an early tale of Roman de Renart." (Folkloric tradition, Roman de Renart)
"The silence of the room was a killer, heavier than any noise could ever be." (Original)
"Time is the ultimate killer of both beauty and pain." (Original)
Etymology
The word killer is built from the verb kill and the suffix -er, which turns an action into a person or thing that performs it. While it feels like a modern staple of the English language, its history contains some interesting shifts in meaning.
Origin and First Use
The Root Verb: The verb kill first appeared around 1200. Originally, it didn't mean "to take a life." Instead, it meant "to strike, hit, or beat." By roughly 1300, the meaning shifted from simply hitting someone to hitting them so hard they died.
The Noun: The specific noun killer was first recorded in the late 1400s (roughly 1475–1500). Its earliest meaning was literal: one who deprives another of life, often used in the context of a "slayer" or even a "butcher."
Earliest Written Evidence: One of the earliest prominent appearances of the word is in the Coverdale Bible (1535), in the book of Tobit, which uses the phrase: "Thou kyller of thy huszbandes."
Evolution of Meaning
1500s (Figurative Use): Shortly after its literal debut, people began using it figuratively. By the mid-1500s, it was used to describe things that "killed" abstract concepts, such as "Christ the killer of death."
1800s (Nature and Slang): In the mid-19th century, the term became associated with nature (e.g., the "killer whale" in 1854). It also began appearing in fashion-related slang—the phrase "dressed to kill" appeared in 1818, though the adjective killer to mean "impressive" didn't become common until the 20th century.
1900s (Modern Slang): By the early 1900s, the word took on its "formidable or impressive" meaning (e.g., a "killer instinct" in boxing, 1931).
Linguistic Ancestry
The word likely stems from the Old English word cwellan (which became the modern "quell"), meaning to murder or execute. This traces back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to torture" or "to die." Interestingly, English is one of the few Germanic languages where this specific root evolved into the primary word for taking a life; in German, for example, the related word quälen still means "to torture."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Killer
Commonly Used Phrases and Idioms
Killer instinct: A ruthless or highly competitive disposition necessary for success.
A killer smile: An exceptionally attractive or charming expression that has a powerful effect on others.
All filler, no killer: A phrase used to describe a collection of work (like a music album) that contains many low-quality tracks and very few highlights.
Dressed to kill: Wearing very stylish or glamorous clothing intended to strike or impress others.
Lady killer: A man who is perceived as being very handsome and charming to women.
Giant killer: A person or team that defeats a much more powerful or famous opponent.
Killer app: A software application so necessary or desirable that it proves the core value of a larger technology or hardware platform.
Painkiller: A drug or treatment used to relieve physical suffering.
Lesser-Known and Original Phrases
Mood killer: A person, event, or remark that suddenly spoils a positive or romantic atmosphere.
Overkill: The use of more strength or resources than is necessary to achieve a goal.
Couch killer: A slang term for a particularly potent strain of cannabis or a very tiring activity that leaves one stuck on the sofa.
A killer on the loose: A phrase used literally in news or figuratively to describe a dangerous element that hasn't been contained.
Time killer: An activity or hobby used primarily to pass the time without much purpose.
The silent killer: A term often used by medical professionals to describe high blood pressure (hypertension) because it frequently has no symptoms.
Idioms Using Synonyms for Similar Effect
In at the death: To be present at the very end of an event or the completion of a task.
The finishing stroke: The final act that completes a task or defeats an opponent.
Slay them in the aisles: To perform so well (usually in comedy) that the audience is overwhelmed with laughter.
Dead ringer: A person or thing that looks exactly like another.
Fit to be tied: To be extremely angry or frustrated (the "killer" of one's patience).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of killer from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
