deadly

adjective

dead·ly | \ ˈded-lē

deadlier; deadliest

Definition of deadly

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : likely to cause or capable of producing death deadly poison

2a : aiming to kill or destroy : implacable a deadly enemy

b : highly effective a deadly exposé

c : unerring a deadly marksman

d : marked by determination or extreme seriousness

3a : tending to deprive of force or vitality a deadly habit

b : suggestive of death especially in dullness or lack of animation deadly bores a deadly conversation

4 : very great : extreme

deadly

adverb

Definition of deadly (Entry 2 of 2)

1 archaic : in a manner to cause death : mortally

2 : suggesting death

3 : extremely deadly serious

Other Words from deadly Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about deadly

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Choose the Right Synonym for deadly

Adjective

deadly, mortal, fatal, lethal mean causing or capable of causing death. deadly applies to an established or very likely cause of death. a deadly disease mortal implies that death has occurred or is inevitable. a mortal wound fatal stresses the inevitability of what has in fact resulted in death or destruction. fatal consequences lethal applies to something that is bound to cause death or exists for the destruction of life. lethal gas

Adjective

deadly, mortal, and fatal mean causing or capable of causing death. deadly is used of something that is certain or very likely to cause death. The mushroom contains a deadly poison. mortal is used of something that already has caused death or is about to cause death. He received a mortal wound in battle. fatal is used when death is certain to follow. The wounds proved to be fatal.

Examples of deadly in a Sentence

Adjective

the world's most deadly snake a more deadly form of the disease They launched a deadly attack. Officers are allowed to use deadly force if necessary. She shoots with deadly accuracy. a basketball player with deadly aim A deadly silence followed his question. The two gang leaders are deadly enemies. He spoke with deadly seriousness.

Adverb

I'm deadly serious about making an offer on the house.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

The famous Chincoteague ponies native to the barrier island off the coast of Virginia have lost seven members of their herd to a deadly infection. — Kelly O'sullivan, Country Living, "A Deadly 'Swamp Cancer' Has Killed Seven of the Famous Chincoteague Wild Ponies," 11 Jan. 2019 Greene shifts back and forth between re-enactments of a deadly miners’ strike and unscripted pontificating about politics from some of the locals. — Noel Murray, The Verge, "The 10 best documentaries of 2018," 18 Dec. 2018 The company has been accused of putting false information on its platform from advertisers that can sometimes lead to deadly misinformation. — Shirin Ghaffary, Recode, "Everything you need to know about Google’s controversial China plans in advance of today’s congressional hearing," 11 Dec. 2018 The couple paid their respects to the victims of a deadly helicopter crash that took place outside of Leicester stadium last month. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kate Middleton and Prince William Snuck in Some Rare PDA at Their Latest Royal Event," 28 Nov. 2018 In a series of controversial tweets last Saturday, November 11, Trump blamed California forest management officials for the deadly wildfires and threatened to cut federal aid to the state to combat the issue. — Kayleigh Roberts, Marie Claire, "The Queen Issued an Official Statement to Donald Trump About the California Wildfires," 18 Nov. 2018 The deadliest attack in Pakistan’s troubled election campaign killed 70 people, including a candidate, in southwestern Baluchistan province on Friday ahead of disgraced former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan. — Zaheer Babar And Abdul Sattar, USA TODAY, "At least 74 people killed in Pakistan election violence," 13 July 2018 Last November, the California Public Utilities Commission rejected a request from SDG&E to have ratepayers pick up the tab in $379 million in costs related to three deadly wildfires in 2007 that ripped through San Diego County. — Rob Nikolewski, sandiegouniontribune.com, "SDG&E awards $1M to groups fighting wildfires," 12 July 2018 Ramos, 38, of Laurel, Maryland has been charged with five counts of murder in Thursday's shooting — one of the deadliest attacks on journalists in U.S. history. — Author: Matthew Barakat, Denise Lavoie, Anchorage Daily News, "Newspaper shooting suspect's grievances began with classmate," 30 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

OLYMPIA — Community advocates, law-enforcement groups and state lawmakers are vowing to quickly approve the compromise legislation that was thrown out by the courts earlier this year to change Washington’s police deadly-use-of-force law. — Joseph O’sullivan, The Seattle Times, "Community advocates, law enforcement groups call for Legislature to pass compromise bill on police deadly force," 3 Dec. 2018 The economic consequences of peace were deadly, and the astronomic reparations Berlin was forced to pay continued to sabotage its economic recovery. — Josef Joffe, WSJ, "Is Germany Slouching Toward Weimar Again?," 23 Sep. 2018 In Charlottesville, Virginia, marking one year since a white nationalist rally turned deadly. — Fox News, "Diamond & Silk sound off on Chicago violence," 12 Aug. 2018 The on-again, off-again summit meeting scheduling had all the earmarks of a television cliffhanger from a president who made a name for himself hosting a reality show on NBC for 14 years, only this time there were deadly serious consequences. — Peter Baker, New York Times, "Trump Announces Summit Meeting With Kim Jong-un Is Back on," 1 June 2018 The night turned deadly at about 11 p.m. when police were called to the 1600 block of Pentwood Road in Northeast Baltimore. — Lauren Lumpkin, baltimoresun.com, "2 killed, 2 injured in overnight shootings in Baltimore," 8 July 2018 In some cases, that abuse turns deadly: On average, between four and seven American children die each day because of abuse and neglect. — Gaby Del Valle, Teen Vogue, "How Child Abuse Affects the Brain," 22 June 2018 Nightmare bacteria — those that are resistant to almost every drug — are particularly deadly in the elderly and people with chronic illnesses. — Liz Szabo, Washington Post, "‘Nightmare Bacteria’ Stalk U.S. Hospitals," 3 Apr. 2018 When that rally turned deadly, Trump was slow to condemn racist demonstrators. — David Z. Morris, Fortune, "Airbnb Has Some Breathtaking Listings in ‘Shithole’ Countries," 14 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'deadly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.