1
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death
the doctors were alarmed about the outbreak of the deadly new virus
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deadly
Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Western provinces—including Ilam, Kermanshah, Lorestan, and Hamedan—have seen the deadliest clashes so far, according to Kurdish-Iranian rights group Hengaw, which says those regions account for a majority of fatalities.
—Connor Greene, Time, 7 Jan. 2026
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025
Fentanyl is a deadly synthetic opioid that’s pressed into counterfeit pills or mixed into heroin, cocaine and other street drugs.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadly
Adjective
In 2020, the utility pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter after a transmission-line failure caused the deadly 2018 Camp Fire that razed Paradise in Butte County.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Western provinces—including Ilam, Kermanshah, Lorestan, and Hamedan—have seen the deadliest clashes so far, according to Kurdish-Iranian rights group Hengaw, which says those regions account for a majority of fatalities.
—Connor Greene, Time, 7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
Music Box Theatre The theater’s big deployers of expensive live-feed scenography tend to be self-serious — which is one of many reasons that Kip Williams’s camera-happy adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s still deadly clever novella came as such a delight.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025
Fentanyl is a deadly synthetic opioid that’s pressed into counterfeit pills or mixed into heroin, cocaine and other street drugs.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadly
Adjective
-
He’s sent to the deadly planet Genna, where every flora and fauna has evolved to be as lethal as possible, and given the seemingly impossible task of killing a fierce creature known as the Kalisk.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Nov. 2025
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How Nashville police got involved Nashville Police Chief John Drake said the department's specialized investigation unit saw a rise in violent crime two years ago, including non-lethal shootings and homicides connected to the MS-13 gang.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The Rhode founder stunned in a sheer black mesh teddy with a G-string thong design and an ab-baring cutout made out of straps.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
7 Jan. 2026
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But the department has argued the sheer volume of documents that need to be found, uploaded, reviewed, redacted and published has forced it to instead release the files online on a rolling basis, with a series of enormous document dumps over the course of several days in mid-December.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
There are guns, horses, ghosts, a primal struggle for survival in hostile terrain, family feuds and a steadily intensifying sense of mortal threat, as Old Porch’s ambition and psychopathy escalate the drama.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The Anaheim location, which opened to similar acclaim earlier this year, will soon be joined by an in-progress second brick-and-mortal location to open in Santa Ana.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
6 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Nineteenth-century reporters could be extremely casual with facts and guessed at the spelling of names.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Several hundred protesters gathered at First Ward Park on Thursday night in response to Wednesday’s fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
-
John Mulaney has postponed three upcoming shows in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.—
Amy McCarthy,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Hour of the Wolf is a far-ranging memoir about motherhood, art, family, and the way that a dog’s unconditional love can offer a rare opportunity for healing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
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The state recently launched a project providing unconditional monthly checks — averaging $500 — to families who have abused or neglected their children.—
Sarah A. Font,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The cemetery of good but dead laws is infinite; the main thing is that social forces exist.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
These ghosts, which take the form of their dead friends, are mostly just goofy, with the shoddy special effects and glowy auras giving the whole thing a distinctly Haunted Mansion vibe; critically, the threat never feels real, which undermines any tension.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
The pork was incredibly tender and juicy, with a bold but balanced mix of spices that didn’t overpower each other.—
Alexa Stone
January 9,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
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These kind of creative environments are so incredibly inspiring to me.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deadly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadly. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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