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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective deadly differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of deadly are fatal, lethal, and mortal. While all these words mean "causing or capable of causing death," deadly applies to an established or very likely cause of death.

a deadly disease

When would fatal be a good substitute for deadly?

In some situations, the words fatal and deadly are roughly equivalent. However, fatal stresses the inevitability of what has in fact resulted in death or destruction.

fatal consequences

When is lethal a more appropriate choice than deadly?

While in some cases nearly identical to deadly, lethal applies to something that is bound to cause death or exists for the destruction of life.

lethal gas

When could mortal be used to replace deadly?

The synonyms mortal and deadly are sometimes interchangeable, but mortal implies that death has occurred or is inevitable.

a mortal wound

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deadly
Adjective
At least 16 people died in the deadly storms that were a part of a destructive weather event across the Midwest, according to The Independent. Escher Walcott, People.com, 17 May 2025 In Kentucky, local authorities said the deadly tornado hit an area near London-Corbin Airport around midnight Friday. Isabella Kwai, New York Times, 17 May 2025
Adverb
View 2 Images Scientists have made a major breakthrough in the accuracy and speed at which often deadly pathogen infections can be identified and treated. New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2025 The incident started as an altercation that turned deadly, according to the NDOC. Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deadly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadly
Adjective
  • Oscar Franklin Smith is set to be executed by lethal injection for the 1989 murder of his estranged wife, 35-year-old Judith Robirds Smith, and her sons.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • The last electrocution was in 1990, the method has been lethal injection since that time.
    Ray Hanley, Arkansas Online, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • Most advice about LinkedIn growth focuses on sheer numbers.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • Some of music’s biggest names (and harshest critics) have marveled at the sheer range of Darin’s work, which spanned everything from jazz, swing and pop to folk and country.
    Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Security for Ukrainians will depend upon NATO members, especially the U.S., increasing their delivery of lethal weaponry to enhance Ukraine’s armed forces capability of causing mortal damage to Russia’s armies and cities.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
  • Related Stories The China de minimis ban, which is still very much in its rollout phase, has been viewed as a mortal wound to the trade provision.
    Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 16 May 2025
Adverb
  • No league in the United States is more popular than the National Football League, making the schedule release an extremely exciting day for the sports world.
    Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
  • While some have argued for simply adding more landers and rovers, the analyses that can be done in laboratories on Earth will provide much more information than can be obtained on Mars with in situ assets that have, of necessity, extremely limited scientific instrumentation.
    Bruce Jakosky, Space.com, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • From cold cases cracked decades later to trials still underway, here are 18 fatal crimes that occurred at colleges and universities.
    Corin Cesaric, People.com, 18 May 2025
  • Saturday’s crash in Brooklyn was the second fatal hit-and-run in the borough in a week, cops said.
    Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • Trump offered to mediate the conflict and renewed his call for an unconditional ceasefire.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • Then, in Kyiv, Ukraine, France, Germany, the UK and Poland demanded an unconditional ceasefire for a month, and published a picture of the five countries’ leaders on the phone to President Trump.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • The silver vehicle then hit the 84-year-old woman, who was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
    Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
  • He was pronounced dead at the scene by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
    Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 25 May 2025
Adverb
  • Booking flights into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport or Fresno Yosemite International Airport can be incredibly costly, and after flying in you still need to navigate multi-hour drives to actually make it to the parks.
    Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 20 May 2025
  • As incredibly fast as that is, space is incredibly spread out.
    Jarred Roberts, The Conversation, 20 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deadly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadly. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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