deadly

deadly
[[t]de̱dli[/t]]
deadlier, deadliest
1) ADJ-GRADED If something is deadly, it is likely or able to cause someone's death, or has already caused someone's death.

He was acquitted on charges of assault with a deadly weapon.

...a deadly disease currently affecting dolphins...

Passive smoking can be deadly too...

The authorities are looking into last week's deadly gas explosions.

Syn:
lethal, fatal
2) ADJ-GRADED (disapproval) If you describe a person or their behaviour as deadly, you mean that they will do or say anything to get what they want, without caring about other people.

His mother's voice was one he knew; ice cold and deadly...

The Duchess levelled a deadly look at Nikko.

Syn:
3) ADJ If you describe someone or something as deadly, you mean that you think they are very dull and boring. [INFORMAL]

She finds these parties deadly.

Syn:
4) ADV: ADV adj (emphasis) You can use deadly to emphasize that something has a particular quality, especially an unpleasant or undesirable quality.

Broadcast news was accurate and reliable but deadly dull...

The north wind was bitter and deadly cold...

The United States had been deadly serious in its threat of military action.

Syn:
5) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n A deadly situation has unpleasant or dangerous consequences.

...the deadly combination of low expectations and low achievement...

It is here that most students fall into a subtle and deadly trap.

6) ADJ-GRADED Deadly enemies or rivals fight or compete with each other in a very aggressive way.

The two became deadly enemies...

That would make the competition between rival suppliers even deadlier.

7) ADJ-GRADED In sport, deadly players and actions are extremely skilful and successful. [JOURNALISM]

...the fastest and deadliest bowlers in world cricket today.


English dictionary. 2008.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР
Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • deadly — adj 1 Deadly, mortal, fatal, lethal mean causing or causative of death. Deadly may imply an extremely high degree of probability rather than a certainty of death; the term therefore applies to something with the capacity of or a marked… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • deadly — [ded′lē] adj. deadlier, deadliest [ME dedlich < OE deadlic: see DEAD & LY1] 1. causing death or likely to cause death [a deadly poison] 2. to the death; mortal or implacable [deadly combat, deadly enemies] …   English World dictionary

  • deadly — dead·ly adj dead·li·er, est: likely to cause or capable of causing death; also: dangerous (2) ◇ Deadly and dangerous are sometimes used interchangeably, esp. in connection with weapons or instruments. Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam… …   Law dictionary

  • Deadly — may refer to: Deadly (novel series), a children s book by Morris Gleitzman and Paul Jennings Deadly (TV series), an Australian children s television cartoon series Karla, a 2006 American motion picture originally titled Deadly Alan Deadly… …   Wikipedia

  • deadly — dead ly, a. 1. Capable of causing death; mortal; fatal; destructive; certain or likely to cause death; as, a deadly blow or wound. [1913 Webster] 2. Aiming or willing to destroy; implacable; desperately hostile; flagitious; as, deadly enemies.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • deadly — dead ly, adv. 1. In a manner resembling, or as if produced by, death; deathly. Deadly pale. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. In a manner to occasion death; mortally. [1913 Webster] The groanings of a deadly wounded man. Ezek. xxx. 24. [1913 Webster] 3. In …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • deadly — [adj1] causing end of life baleful, baneful, bloodthirsty, bloody, cannibalistic, carcinogenic, cruel, dangerous, death dealing, deathly, deleterious, destroying, destructive, fatal, grim, harmful, homicidal, injurious, internecine, killing,… …   New thesaurus

  • deadly — ► ADJECTIVE (deadlier, deadliest) 1) causing or able to cause death. 2) (of a voice, glance, etc.) filled with hate. 3) extremely accurate or effective. 4) informal extremely boring. ► ADVERB 1) …   English terms dictionary

  • deadly — O.E. deadlic mortal, subject to death, also causing death; see DEAD (Cf. dead) + LY (Cf. ly) (2). Meaning having the capacity to kill is from late 14c. (O.E. words for this included deaðbærlic, deaðberende) …   Etymology dictionary

  • deadly — I UK [ˈdedlɪ] / US adjective Word forms deadly : adjective deadly comparative deadlier superlative deadliest * 1) able or likely to kill people This is a potentially deadly disease. deadly to: Too many water changes can prove deadly to these… …   English dictionary

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