deadly

The definition of deadly is something likely to be terminal or the cause of your demise, or something complete, something hateful, or something extremely boring.

(adjective)

  1. Cancer that has spread so far that your doctor tells you that you'll live only a few more weeks is an example of something that would be described as deadly.
  2. If you are completely serious about something and will not change your mind at all, this is an example of when you are deadly serious.
  3. If you give your worst enemy a hateful glare, this is an example of when your glare can be described as deadly.
  4. If a class goes on for hours and hours and the teacher is droning on about something you don't care about, this is an example of when the class is deadly.

Deadly is defined as something resembling or related to death, or is something that is true to an extreme extent.

(adverb)

  1. A vampire who is never able to see the light is an example of someone who stalk his prey while standing deadly still.
  2. If you are completely serious about something and will not change your mind at all, this is an example of a time when you are deadly serious.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See deadly in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective deadlier, deadliest

  1. causing death or likely to cause death: a deadly poison
  2. to the death; mortal or implacable: deadly combat, deadly enemies
  3. typical of death: deadly pallor
  4. very harmful; destructive
    1. extreme or excessive: deadly silence
    2. out-and-out; utter: with deadly gravity
  5. oppressively tiresome: a deadly bore
  6. perfectly accurate: deadly aim
  7. Theol. causing spiritual death: the seven deadly sins

Origin: ME dedlich < OE deadlic: see dead & -ly

adverb deadlier, deadliest

  1. in a way suggestive of death: to lie deadly still
  2. extremely or excessively: deadly serious

Related Forms:

See deadly in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective dead·li·er, dead·li·est
  1. Causing or tending to cause death: deadly weapons; a deadly spill of radioactive waste products. See Synonyms at fatal.
  2. Suggestive of death: a deadly pallor.
  3. Aiming or wanting to kill; implacable: deadly enemies.
  4. a. Destructive in effect: gave the film a deadly review.
    b. Tending to take away vitality, effectiveness, or force: the deadly habit of procrastination.
  5. Absolute; utter: deadly concentration.
  6. Extreme or terrible: worked under deadly strain.
  7. Extremely accurate; unerring: She is a deadly shot with the bow.
  8. Dull, tedious, and boring: a deadly prose style.
adverb
  1. So as to suggest death.
  2. To an extreme: deadly serious.

Related Forms:

  • deadˈli·ness noun

Learn more about deadly

link/cite print suggestion box