1
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death
the doctors were alarmed about the outbreak of the deadly new virus
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sheer
having no exceptions or restrictions
the deadly tedium of waiting for the fog to lift
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mortal
of, relating to, or suggestive of death
a deadly pallor spread across her face as the tragic news gradually sank in
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in extremely
to a great degree
I'm deadly serious about making an offer on the house
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deadly
Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
The mass shooting and fire could have been deadlier if not for the bravery of those who risked their lives to save others, Danic said.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2025
Swatting emerged as a popular if potentially deadly hoax among gamers in the early 2000s, according to researchers at the Anti-Defamation League.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadly
Adjective
Forced to participate in increasingly macabre rituals and tests, Giacomo is consumed by the sinister — as apparitions, ghosts and deadly rumors start to accumulate.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
The mass shooting and fire could have been deadlier if not for the bravery of those who risked their lives to save others, Danic said.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Adverb
And while much of this might sound deadly serious, Roach’s film is frequently very funny.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2025
Swatting emerged as a popular if potentially deadly hoax among gamers in the early 2000s, according to researchers at the Anti-Defamation League.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadly
Adjective
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Tennessee law holds that those who committed crimes before 1999 can choose between being put to death by lethal injection or the electric chair.—
Evan Mealins,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
-
And of course 100% lethal to the child.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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To watch Lipe-Smith’s Caroline cuddle in bed watching TV on her iPad, or bopping around to JoJo Siwa, or pensively finishing a Popsicle while sitting beside her grandmother at a museum, is to have the sheer malevolence of our current administration and its adherents thrown into sharp relief.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
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The sheer paucity of Russian resources, after three and a half years of war, may lead to a similarly ineffective response to any use of Tomahawks.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Khalid was born mortal, but was given an immortal life when his father placed his soul into the body of Hunbish, a child that the Goryeo girl once wished to save.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
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Bautista is playing The Kurgen, the movie’s top villain, while Gillan is MacLeod’s Scottish and very mortal wife.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Some genres may be extremely violent and gory, so parents may want to consider supervising their children's viewing of films or avoid them altogether.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Grain bins and silos can be extremely deadly if people get trapped inside.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The crossover came amid recent turmoil, including Colbert’s show being canceled by in July and Kimmel's temporary suspension by ABC in September following controversial comments about the fatal shooting of political activist Charlie Kirk.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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And one expert has suggested that steel or concrete barriers can also help guard against deadly attacks like the one in Grand Blanc Township, as well as unintentional fatal wrecks and may even help businesses stave off plaintiff lawsuits.—
Frank Witsil,
Freep.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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While a January YouGov pollsuggests Biden’s unconditional support for Israel significantly affected Democratic voter turnout, Harris is largely dismissive of Gaza.—
Book Marks
September 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Sep. 2025
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Trump could have faced up to four years in prison, but a judge issued an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction in place but sparing him any penalty or fine.—
Jeremy Kohler,
ProPublica,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Tom is torn between loyalty to his dead wife and love for the estranged son who killed her.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
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The rush would close in, the play would appear dead — and the five-star recruit and Tennessee transfer would evaporate from the pocket.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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At the time, the fields of primatology, ethology, anthropology, and all of science were incredibly male-dominated.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
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And there was Mahab Ghodss, an incredibly powerful and opaque consulting firm run by regime insiders, which drafted the studies for dam projects and lobbied for approval.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deadly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadly. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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