1
as in deadly
of, relating to, or suggestive of death
his deathly pallor suggested that any attempt to find a pulse would be futile
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death
smallpox is one deathly disease that medical science has been able to conquer
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deathly
More progress will become possible if leaders take a hard look at the belief system that has produced this huge, deathly monument to wishful thinking.
—
Michael Krepon, Foreign Affairs, 15 Aug. 2016
Californians must rise and reclaim our Golden State from the deathly and devastating grip of endless bureaucratic cancer.
—Stepheny Price, Fox News, 27 Jan. 2025
For all of those thousands of collegiate Olympians past and present, the roar of the football crowd will be drowned out by the deathly silence of their shuttered programs.
—Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 24 July 2024
Gomez has co-led the Hulu series alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short since its 2021 debut, as a band of neighbors who join forces to solve deathly mysteries unfolding around them.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 17 July 2024
The deathly gossip started as St. Patrick’s Day rumo(u)rs that the BBC was on standby for an announcement from the royal family and government buildings were flying flags at half-mast.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2024
While attempting to return to their present, a cryptic force emerges and traps them on a strange plot of land, giving them a deathly ultimatum in order to escape.
—Caroline Brew, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024
The chill of her announcement is accentuated by Muhly’s orchestration, in which bass clarinet, contrabassoon, harp, and cello perform a deathly turn from E major to G minor.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023
Then we were warned that the friend, despite being a licensed psychiatrist, has a deathly and obsessive terror of dogs.
—Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 4 Mar. 2023
Michael Krepon, Foreign Affairs, 15 Aug. 2016
Californians must rise and reclaim our Golden State from the deathly and devastating grip of endless bureaucratic cancer.
—Stepheny Price, Fox News, 27 Jan. 2025
For all of those thousands of collegiate Olympians past and present, the roar of the football crowd will be drowned out by the deathly silence of their shuttered programs.
—Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 24 July 2024
Gomez has co-led the Hulu series alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short since its 2021 debut, as a band of neighbors who join forces to solve deathly mysteries unfolding around them.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 17 July 2024
The deathly gossip started as St. Patrick’s Day rumo(u)rs that the BBC was on standby for an announcement from the royal family and government buildings were flying flags at half-mast.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2024
While attempting to return to their present, a cryptic force emerges and traps them on a strange plot of land, giving them a deathly ultimatum in order to escape.
—Caroline Brew, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024
The chill of her announcement is accentuated by Muhly’s orchestration, in which bass clarinet, contrabassoon, harp, and cello perform a deathly turn from E major to G minor.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023
Then we were warned that the friend, despite being a licensed psychiatrist, has a deathly and obsessive terror of dogs.
—Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 4 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deathly
Adjective
-
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what led to the deadly incident.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Trump has attempted to crack down on pro-Palestinian campus protests against U.S. ally Israel's devastating military assault on Gaza, which has caused a humanitarian crisis in the enclave and followed a deadly October 2023 attack by Islamist group Hamas.—
Steve Holland and Kanishka Singh,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
When carboxyhemoglobin saturation exceeds 50%, it is considered lethal.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Astronauts on a mission to Mars lasting several years would be exposed to potentially lethal amounts of radiation, Pitts said.—
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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According to Greek mythology, Castor and Pollux were the maternal twin sons of Leda, the mortal queen of Sparta.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
6 Apr. 2025
-
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place follows an adult Justin Russo, who has chosen to lead a normal, mortal life with his family, Giada, Roman and Milo.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Black lung, a debilitating and often fatal condition caused by inhalation of coal and silica dust during mining, affects roughly 1 in 5 miners who have worked in the Central Appalachian mines for twenty-five years or more, according to NIOSH.—
Dr. Mark Abdelmalek,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
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The day of the fatal fall, Goodwin said Bass had checked on Tidus and his brother minutes prior, and then had stepped outside with the dog.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
On the second day of the year, police responded to a call where a father and his son and daughter were found dead.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Matthew Terrell Collins Sr., 58, and Matthew Terrell Collins Jr., 29, were pronounced dead at the scene around 6:06 p.m.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deathly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deathly. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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