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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
Pakistan has experienced a series of deadly floods through the summer monsoon season, but a fresh deluge of heavy rain in early September intensified the humanitarian crisis. Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2025 The American administration has parked warships in the Caribbean Sea in a bid to tackle drug trafficking, culminating in a deadly attack on a Venezuelan vessel last week. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 9 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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 Punk is urban, decadent, and indifferent; hardcore is suburban, disciplined, and deadly earnest. Chris R. Morgan, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deadly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadly
Adjective
  • The most recent execution via firing squad in the United States occurred in South Carolina, where Brad Sigmon, 67, was executed in March, opting for the method instead of the electric chair or lethal injection.
    Amanda Castro Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
  • While officers in the garage tried to find Cook’s firearm before approaching him, Miller from outside the front of the house gave commands to other officers to retrieve a shield and a 40mm less-lethal projectile launcher, the reports showed.
    Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Maple and Francesca each opted for dresses, with the former donning a semi-sheer black number and the latter choosing a silky brown slip dress matching her father's color palette.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
  • This trend includes smaller, high-end homes and with buyers favoring places that offer meaningful features over sheer size or clout.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Young Hamnet’s shuffling off this mortal coil once laid the groundwork for a masterpiece.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Mephistopheles, dispatched by the Devil to serve Faustus, can’t help getting the better of his mortal master, like an infernal Jeeves—or, more to the point, like a handler in the intelligence racket, running an anxious agent in the field.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • Or consider the extremely rapid development of vaccines during the recent COVID pandemic.
    Alan Lightman September 12, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Kirk has risen in popularity over the years for his extremely polarizing takes, which resulted in a heavy split among reactions to his passing.
    Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Video of the fatal attack showed Kirk speaking to a large crowd of people on the university campus as a shot rings out.
    Richard Hall, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Though Kirk's visit was controversial on campus, police were tracking no specific or credible threats before the fatal shooting, Utah law enforcement sources told ABC News.
    Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Khusnullin has earned Putin’s unconditional trust due to his lengthy experience in remaking cities.
    Yegor Mostovshikov, The Dial, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Hamas, however, said any talks would not be unconditional—underscoring the entrenchment on both sides.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • There were flies in the kitchen and dead bugs in a utility sink.
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Fine dead fuels throughout the fire area hit moistures of extinction while the heavy dead and down continued to smolder.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • However, these fluctuations are incredibly important, from a cosmic perspective.
    Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Now, glasses are for everyone and have become incredibly versatile.
    Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deadly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadly. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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