deadly

[ ded-lee ]

adjective

, dead·li·er, dead·li·est.

1. causing or tending to cause death; fatal; lethal:

   a deadly poison.

2. aiming to kill or destroy; implacable:

   a deadly enemy.

3. like death:

   a deadly pallor.

4. excruciatingly boring:

   The dinner party was absolutely deadly.

   Synonyms: dreary, tedious, dull

5. excessive; inordinate:

   deadly haste.

6. extremely accurate:

   Annie Oakley was a deadly shot.

adverb

1. in a manner resembling or suggesting death:

   deadly pale.

2. excessively; completely:

   deadly dull.

deadly

/ ˈdɛdlɪ /

adjective

1. likely to cause death

   deadly poison

   deadly combat

2. informal.
   extremely boring

adverb

1. like death in appearance or certainty

   deadly pale

   a deadly sleep

Derived Forms

• ˈdeadliness, noun

Other Words From

• deadli·ness noun
• non·deadly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of deadly¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English deedli(ch), Old English dēadlīce; dead, -ly

Synonym Study

See fatal.

Example Sentences

The following month, she said it was an "undeniable fact" that there were US-funded biolabs in Ukraine that could "release and spread deadly pathogens" as she called for a ceasefire.

From BBC

The review rejected Colomey’s claims of a violent internal culture and found the team used deadly force in a small fraction of incidents.

From Los Angeles Times

He wants us to imagine straight male American soldiers are "honorable, powerful and deadly," but also portrays them as too feeble to handle the diverse modern military.

From Salon

And there are many different kinds of prostate cancer - not all deadly.

From BBC

One thing is certain: Gaetz will serve as a trial balloon, even if his nomination is deadly serious.

From Slate

Related Words

• bloody
• carcinogenic
• cruel
• dangerous
• destructive
• fatal
• harmful
• lethal
• malignant
• mortal
• murderous
• noxious
• pernicious
• poisonous
• savage
• suicidal
• toxic
• violent
• virulent