deadly

adjective
UK: /ˈded.li/
US: /ˈded.li/

  1. Able to cause death; lethal

    1. The cobra's venom is deadly. [ ] [ ]
    2. Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas that can accumulate in enclosed spaces. [ ] [ ]

  2. Extremely harmful or dangerous; causing or likely to cause serious damage, injury, or failure.

    1. That new drug is deadly. [ ] [ ]
    2. The combination of fatigue and speed can be a deadly mix for drivers. [ ] [ ]

  3. Complete; total; used to emphasize something negative.

    1. There was a deadly silence. [ ] [ ]
    2. The project was met with deadly opposition from the local residents. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

lethal toxic pernicious fatal venomous mortal dangerous
deadly adverb

  1. In a manner likely to cause death.

    1. The snake struck deadly. [ ] [ ]
    2. She deadly aimed the arrow toward the deer in the forest far away. [ ] [ ]

  2. Extremely; used to emphasize the degree of something.

    1. I'm deadly serious about this. [ ] [ ]
    2. The competition was deadly close, with only a few points separating the top contenders. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "deadly" in English means: Able to cause death; lethal, Extremely harmful or dangerous; causing or likely to cause serious damage, injury, or failure., Complete; total; used to emphasize something negative..

The phonetic transcription of "deadly" is /ˈded.li/ in British English and /ˈded.li/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "deadly": lethal, toxic, pernicious, fatal, venomous, mortal, dangerous.

Example usage of "deadly": "The cobra's venom is deadly.". More examples on the page.