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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
  • The serial killer sat on death row for 14 years before execution by lethal injection on May 10, 1994, at age 52.
    Andrew Nodell, People.com, 9 May 2025
  • South Carolina allows condemned inmates to choose whether to die by lethal injection, electric chair or firing squad.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • Secrets of the Thrift Kidney's strategy centers on knowledge, patience, and sheer time investment.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025
  • Elements of fabric ruching and stitching featured at the hips, with sheer fabric cascading throughout the rest of the piece.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Ex-Presidents have a tricky relationship with relevance after leaving the White House, and Biden’s re-entry into the mortal world is still a work in progress.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 8 May 2025
  • If one chapter of your mortal span—your wartime experience, or a love affair—has pierced you more sharply than any other, why shouldn’t that chapter go up front?
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 5 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
  • The killing is Kansas City’s 60th homicide this year, according to data maintained by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 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
  • First responders pulled Boutwell out of the car and realized another person was dead under the vehicle, according to the sheriff, who added that the person who shot Boutwell is responsible for Jones’ death as well.
    Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025
  • Three of the party members — ages 36, 47 and 63 — were pronounced dead at the site, authorities said.
    Escher Walcott, People.com, 13 May 2025
Adverb
  • Like its younger sibling, the whiskey has an incredibly broad aroma, encompassing fresh and dried tropical and orchard fruits, nuts, caramel or butterscotch, and vanilla.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 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 23 May. 2025.

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