Murderous vs Savage

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Murderous

Informal Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Savage

Informal Top 3,000 (common)

Most common: Savage

	Murderous	Savage
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ˈmɜː.dər.əs// 🇺🇸 //ˈmɜr.dɚ.əs//	🇬🇧 //ˈsæv.ɪdʒ// 🇺🇸 //ˈsæv.ɪdʒ//
Meaning	Very angry or wanting to kill someone.	Very violent or cruel, or wild and untamed.
Example	Her murderous glare made everyone in the room uncomfortable.	The reviewer gave a savage critique of the movie.
Register	Informal	Informal
How common	Beyond 10,000 (less common)	Top 3,000 (common)
Collocations	murderous intent, murderous rage, murderous look, murderous thoughts, murderous violence	savage attack, savage criticism, savage behavior, savage wilderness, savage insult
Antonyms	benevolent, charitable, compassionate	gentle, tame, civilized
Common mistakes	Confused with 'murderer' - 'murderous' describes intent, not the person., Using it in light situations, such as joking, can be inappropriate., Mixing up with 'malevolent' - 'murderous' specifically implies a desire to kill.	Confused with 'savage' as a compliment instead of a negative description., Incorrectly using 'savage' as a verb., Using 'savage' in formal writing.
Usage notes	Used to describe a very intense feeling of anger. Typically inappropriate in casual conversation unless used figuratively. Don't use in serious contexts.	Used informally to describe harsh or aggressive behavior. Often seen in slang for fierce criticism or wildness. Not typically used in formal contexts.

See it in real clips

Phew! Boy, what a murderous day.

Murderous

Game Of Thrones › S1 E1

He's a savage, of course, but he's one of the finest killers alive.

Savage

Frequently asked questions: Murderous vs Savage

What's the difference between Murderous and Savage?

Murderous: Very angry or wanting to kill someone. Savage: Very violent or cruel, or wild and untamed.

Which is more common: Murderous and Savage?

Savage is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Murderous: Her murderous glare made everyone in the room uncomfortable. Savage: The reviewer gave a savage critique of the movie.

Can I use Murderous and Savage interchangeably?

Not always. Murderous and Savage are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.