deadly
Able to kill someone, or very likely to kill.
Capable of causing death, or very likely to cause death.
Very, very serious or dangerous, but not always about real death.
Extremely serious, powerful, or dangerous in effect, though not necessarily involving actual death.
So boring that you really do not want to listen to it or watch it.
Very boring or uninteresting, especially for a long time.
Used before an adjective or adverb to mean 'very, very'.
Used as an adverb to mean extremely or to a very great degree.
- Base: deadly
- Comparative: deadlier
- Superlative: deadliest
deadly accurate
1extremely accurate or precise
So accurate that it is very effective, and sometimes dangerous.
- The sniper was deadly accurate with every shot.
- Her predictions about the market were deadly accurate.
deadly attack
1attack that results in deaths
An act of violence where people are killed.
- Several people died in a deadly attack on the city center.
- The president condemned the deadly attack and promised an investigation.
deadly boring
1extremely boring
Very, very boring.
- The film was deadly boring, and I almost fell asleep.
- He gave a deadly boring speech that went on for an hour.
deadly combination
1very dangerous or powerful mix
Two or more things that, when put together, become very dangerous or very powerful.
- Speed and alcohol are a deadly combination on the road.
- Her intelligence and charm are a deadly combination in politics.
deadly disease
1disease that often kills
A serious illness that kills many of the people who have it.
- Scientists are racing to find a cure for the deadly disease.
- Vaccines have helped to control many deadly diseases.
deadly dull
1extremely dull and uninteresting
Very dull and boring.
- The meeting was deadly dull, but we had to stay until the end.
- I find that kind of small talk deadly dull.
deadly enemy
1very strong and lasting enemy
Someone who hates another person very much and may want to hurt them badly.
- The two men became deadly enemies after the court case.
- In the story, the hero faces his deadly enemy in the final scene.
deadly force
1force likely to cause death
Physical power used in a way that is likely to kill someone.
- Officers are only allowed to use deadly force as a last resort.
- The report questioned whether the use of deadly force was necessary.
deadly poison
1poison that can kill
A substance that can kill you if you drink it, eat it, or get it into your body.
- The berries contain a deadly poison if eaten in large amounts.
- He was killed by a dose of deadly poison.
deadly serious
1extremely serious; not joking
Very serious and not joking at all.
- I thought he was kidding, but he was deadly serious.
- She looked deadly serious when she said she might leave the company.
deadly silence
1complete and intense silence
A very complete and heavy silence, which can feel strange or tense.
- A deadly silence fell over the room after the accident.
- There was a deadly silence when the teacher asked who had cheated.
deadly virus
1virus that often causes death
A very dangerous virus that kills many people who get it.
- The government is trying to stop the spread of a deadly virus.
- A new vaccine may protect people from this deadly virus.
deadly weapon
1weapon capable of killing
A weapon, such as a gun or knife, that can easily kill someone.
- Carrying a deadly weapon without a license is a serious crime.
- The suspect was found with a deadly weapon in his backpack.
the seven deadly sins
1seven major Christian sins
In Christian tradition, a group of seven very serious bad actions or attitudes, such as pride and greed.
- Pride is often listed as the worst of the seven deadly sins.
- The book uses the seven deadly sins as a way to talk about modern life.