Deathly — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈdeth-lē/ death·ly

Meaning & Definition of Deathly

Deathly (adjective)

  1. fatal
  2. of, relating to, or suggestive of death

Deathly (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. of, relating to, or suggestive of death

    "his deathly pallor suggested that any attempt to find a pulse would be futile"

    similar: dead, deadly, mortal, mortuary
    related: cadaverous, ghostlike, ghostly, phantom, spectral, inactive, inert, inoperative, lifeless, quiescent, still, macabre, baleful, fatal, fateful, fell, killer, lethal, murderous, pestilent
    near: active, alive, animate, breathing, live, living, animated, bouncing, brisk, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty, jazzy, lively, peppy, perky, pert, racy, snappy, spanking, sparky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, springy, vigorous, vital, vivacious, zippy, able-bodied, chipper, fit, hale, healthy, hearty, robust, sound, well, whole, wholesome

  2. likely to cause or capable of causing death

    "smallpox is one deathly disease that medical science has been able to conquer"

    similar: baleful, deadly, fatal, fell, killer, lethal, mortal, murderous, pestilent, terminal, vital
    related: baneful, deleterious, destructive, harmful, injurious, noxious, pernicious, truculent, infectious, infective, pestilential, poisonous, sublethal, toxic, virulent, dangerous, grave, grievous, hazardous, jeopardizing, menacing, parlous, perilous, risky, serious, threatening, ugly, unhealthy, unsound, bloody, internecine, sanguinary, sanguine
    opposite: healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal, wholesome
    near: beneficial, restorative, salubrious, salutary, alleviative, corrective, curative, remedial, tonic, advantageous, useful, nonpoisonous, nontoxic, safe

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Deathly

The most common words with a similar meaning to Deathly:

dead, deadly, mortal, mortuary, baleful, fatal, fell, killer, lethal, murderous, pestilent, terminal, vital

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Deathly

Words with the opposite meaning of Deathly:

healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal, wholesome

Related Words for Deathly

cadaverous, ghostlike, ghostly, phantom, spectral, inactive, inert, inoperative, lifeless, quiescent, still, macabre, fateful, baneful, deleterious, destructive, harmful, injurious, noxious, pernicious, truculent, infectious, infective, pestilential, poisonous, sublethal, toxic, virulent, dangerous, grave

Near Antonyms of Deathly

active, alive, animate, breathing, live, living, animated, bouncing, brisk, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty, jazzy, lively, peppy, perky, pert, racy, snappy, spanking, sparky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, springy, vigorous, vital, vivacious, zippy

Word Forms of Deathly

Derived words: deathly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Deathly

First known use: before 12th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Deathly

What does "Deathly" mean?

"Deathly" means fatal. As an adjective, it is defined as: fatal. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Deathly"?

Other words for "Deathly" include dead, deadly, mortal, mortuary, baleful, fatal, fell and killer. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Deathly" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Deathly"?

There are 59 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Deathly". Common alternatives include dead, deadly, mortal, mortuary, baleful, fatal, fell, killer, lethal and murderous.

What is the opposite of "Deathly"?

Antonyms of "Deathly" include healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal and wholesome. Near antonyms include active, alive, animate and breathing.

How do you use "Deathly" in a sentence?

Examples of "Deathly" in a sentence: "his deathly pallor suggested that any attempt to find a pulse would be futile"; "smallpox is one deathly disease that medical science has been able to conquer".

Is "Deathly" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Deathly" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Deathly"?

"Deathly" is pronounced /ˈdeth-lē/ and divided into syllables as death·ly.

What is the origin of the word "Deathly"?

First known use: before 12th century.