murderous
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brutal
Colloquial and exaggerated for something that is extremely exhausting, difficult, or intense.
Wir mussten in einem mörderischen Tempo arbeiten, um die Frist einzuhalten.
We had to work at a brutal pace to meet the deadline.
terrible
Colloquially used to intensify a negative condition; extremely strong or severe.
Bei der mörderischen Hitze konnte man kaum das Haus verlassen.
In the terrible heat, you could hardly leave the house.
murderous
Related to a murder, involving a murder, or having the intention to murder.
Die Polizei sucht nach dem Täter und der mörderischen Waffe.
The police are looking for the perpetrator and the murder weapon.
The adjective 'mörderisch' (murderous) is derived from 'der Mord' (murder). The extreme and negative intensity of the word 'Mord' (murder) is transferred to the colloquial meanings in order to describe something as extremely exhausting or intense.
Wir hatten einen mörderischen Streit, aber jetzt ist alles wieder gut.
We had a terrible argument, but now everything is fine again.
You can recognize the literal meaning from contexts involving crime, police, or violence. The colloquial, exaggerated meanings refer to everyday things like pace, heat, noise, or exertion.
Die Polizei untersucht den mörderischen Angriff.
The police are investigating the murderous attack.
In the meaning 'extremely exhausting', 'mörderisch' (brutal) is often combined with nouns like 'Tempo' (pace), 'Wettbewerb' (competition), 'Stress' (stress), or 'Anstieg' (climb/increase).
Der mörderische Anstieg auf den Berg hat uns alle erschöpft.
The brutal climb up the mountain exhausted all of us.
As a colloquial intensifier, 'mörderisch' (terrible) describes an extreme, unpleasant state. Typical combinations are 'eine mörderische Hitze' (terrible heat), 'ein mörderischer Lärm' (terrible noise), or 'ein mörderischer Hunger' (terrible hunger).
Wegen des mörderischen Lärms der Baustelle konnte ich nicht schlafen.
Because of the terrible noise from the construction site, I couldn't sleep.
brutal
Brutal and mörderisch can be used colloquially to express extreme intensity. Brutal is a general intensifier. Mörderisch is especially fitting when something is extremely exhausting, difficult, or intense.
Das Training heute war mörderisch anstrengend.
Today's workout was insanely exhausting.
Das Training heute war brutal hart.
Today's workout was brutally hard.
