deadly
able to cause death; fatal
Able to kill someone, or very likely to kill.
a deadly [disease/weapon/attack]
- The doctor warned that this strain of flu can be deadly for older people.
- Police found a stash of deadly weapons hidden under the floor.
- It was a deadly snake whose bite can kill a person in minutes.
- The factory released a deadly gas that spread through the town.
- Using your phone while driving can lead to deadly accidents.
- Smoking can be a deadly habit.
- He drank a deadly poison by mistake.
- They were afraid of the deadly virus.
- The storm caused a deadly flood in the city.
- That cliff is a deadly place to play.
extremely serious or dangerous
Very, very serious or dangerous, but not always about real death.
a deadly [mistake/enemy/silence]
- She made a deadly mistake that almost cost the company millions.
- There was a deadly silence in the room when he announced the layoffs.
- They have been deadly enemies since the court case ten years ago.
- Mixing these two powerful drugs can be a deadly combination.
- The team showed a deadly focus during the final minutes of the game.
- He is a deadly enemy to our plan.
- The teacher gave her a deadly look when she talked in class.
- There was a deadly silence after his rude joke.
- It was a deadly mistake to lie to his boss.
- These two ideas together are a deadly combination for success.
extremely boring; painfully dull
So boring that you really do not want to listen to it or watch it.
a deadly [film/lecture/party]
- The lecture was deadly, and half the class fell asleep.
- I tried to read that book, but it was absolutely deadly.
- The party was deadly; everyone left before midnight.
- His presentation was deadly and full of statistics nobody cared about.
- The movie looked exciting in the trailer, but it turned out to be deadly.
- The class was deadly, and I was bored.
- It was a deadly film with no action.
- Her speech was long and deadly.
- The meeting was deadly and felt like it would never end.
- That TV show is deadly; I never watch it.
extremely; to a great degree
Used before an adjective or adverb to mean 'very, very'.
deadly [adjective/adverb]
- She was deadly serious when she said she might quit.
- I'm deadly tired after working a double shift.
- The roads were deadly quiet at that hour.
- He was deadly afraid of making a mistake.
- The striker was deadly accurate in front of goal tonight.
- He was deadly tired after the long trip.
- She looked deadly serious during the meeting.
- I was deadly afraid to talk to my boss.
- The train was deadly slow this morning.
- That game was deadly boring for me.
- 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.