deathly Hear it!

deathly Definition

deathly (-lē)

adjective

  1. causing death; deadly
  2. like or characteristic of death

Etymology: ME dethlich < OE dēathlic: see death

adverb

  1. in a deathlike way; to a deadly degree
  2. extremely deathly ill

deathly Synonyms

deathly

modif.

deathlike, cadaverous, ghastly, gaunt; see dead 1, dull 6, pale 1.

deathly Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • pallor: She was standing with glaring eyes, parted lips, and a deathly pallor on her worn face.
  • hush: There is always a deathly hush on the phone at this point.
  • silence: There was a deathly silence, then, in the distance, I saw a brown tail disappear into the water.
  • pale: He was deathly pale, yet he seemed fired with a hope; his eyes shone.
  • quiet: The deathly quiet, iron barred windows of San Quentin.
  • cold: It's June but deathly cold, fog wraps round the sea.

Modifying Another Word

  • so: The complacency of Connecticut at the time was ready made to rail against, it was so deathly unoriginal and sticky with republican fear.
  • still: I've actually done a tiny bit of work here today but it's still deathly quiet.

Browse dictionary entries near deathly

  1. deathless
  2. deathful
  3. deathcamas
  4. deathblow
  5. deathbed
  6. death wish
  7. death warrant
  8. Death Valley
  9. death tax
  10. death squad
  1. deathsman
  2. deathtrap
  3. deathwatch
  4. Deauville
  5. deb
  6. debacle
  7. debag
  8. debar
  9. debark
  10. debase