Synonyms for deadly
- adjective
- adverb
Most common
fatal destructive noxious pernicious lethal contagious internecine
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Fatal
fatal, noxious, pernicious, destructive, disastrous, calamitous, malignant, pestilential, injurious, deleterious, pestilent, baneful dated, baleful dated
4. Lethal
Other
Adverb
1. Devilishly
devilishly, insanely, madly, deucedly informal
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Causing death; lethal.
- adj. 2
Aiming or willing to destroy; implacable; desperately hostile.
- adj. 3
Very accurate (of aiming with a bow, firearm, etc.).
- adv. 1
In a way which suggests death.
Her face suddenly became deadly white.
Related words
- Word family
- deadliness dead
- Phrases
- deadly nightshade deadly sin
Example sentences
- fatal Make the best of one's lot with fatal resignation.
- destructive Excessive drinking is destructive of our health.
- noxious The old warehouse is no longer storing any noxious chemicals.
- pernicious A half-truth is more pernicious than a lie.
- lethal Pufferfish can be lethal if not prepared properly.
- contagious I thought that you said that it wasn't contagious.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| deadly | rising | |
| fatal | steady | |
| destructive | steady | |
| noxious | steady | |
| pernicious | steady | |
| lethal | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- toxic2, fatal2, madly2
- 6 letters
- mortal2, lethal2
- 7 letters
- killing2, noxious2, deathly2, baleful2, baneful
- 8 letters
- insanely, venomous3, virulent3, deucedly
- 9 letters
- murderous3, malignant3, injurious4, pestilent
- 10 letters
- disastrous3, contagious3, pernicious3, implacable4, calamitous4, devilishly4, lifelessly
- 11 letters
- destructive3, deleterious5, internecine4
- 12 letters
- pestilential
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (toxic2 = 2 syllables).