deathly

adjective

ˈdeth-lē How to pronounce deathly (audio)
Definition of deathlynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 deathly The stranger watched it with deathly seriousness, forehead furrowed as if thinking through some impossible problem. — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026 Henry once again takes a deathly blow to his reputation, but escapes real consequences, now back living a cozy life as a lord. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 2 Mar. 2026 Despite its deathly reputation, Mount Baldy is oftentimes neither a particularly precarious mountain nor an especially treacherous trail. — Outside, 8 Jan. 2026 Despite the deathly dangers of fentanyl contamination, hard drug use has been enjoying record increases in Hollywood and beyond not seen since the hard-partying ’80s. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025 The deathly avalanche between Camp 2 and Camp 3 always scared me. — Ben Ayers, Outside Online, 10 Apr. 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deathly
  1. deadly
  2. lethal
  3. mortal
  4. fatal
  5. dead
Adjective
  • Police charged 52-year-old Mooresville resident Rod Moskowitz with assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, court records show.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Memories are fresh of the nationwide protests sparked by economic pressures that led to a deadly crackdown weeks before the war.
    — Amir-Hussein Radjy, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of deadly
Adjective
  • Garza was shot twice with less-lethal bean bag rounds but did not surrender.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Police said officers used a less-lethal weapon to subdue Sims and take him into custody.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of lethal
Adjective
  • Airing for eight seasons between 1964 and 1972, the fantastical series followed the daily adventures of a powerful witch who attempted to live as a typical suburban housewife alongside her mortal husband.
    — Justine Fisher, PEOPLE, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Waymo’s sales pitch is that its technology will remove all that mortal imperfection from our streets.
    — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of mortal
Adjective
  • Speed cameras have been shown to reduce speeding by 31% to 82% and fatal crashes by 53% to 71%, according to the Department of Transportation.
    — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Kumar faces two counts of first-degree manslaughter and three counts of recklessly endangering another person in Deschutes County stemming from the fatal wreck.
    — Eric Mack , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of fatal
Adjective
  • Police said Sunday that a 65-year-old man was found dead on a sidewalk near an entrance to Disneyland in Anaheim.
    — Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The vehicle arrived at a hospital, where Kohen was pronounced dead, and another individual was critically injured, according to authorities.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of dead

Browse Nearby Words

deathless
deathly
deaths
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Cite this Entry

“Deathly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deathly. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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