deathly

American  

[deth-lee] / ˈdɛθ li /

adjective

1. causing death; deadly; fatal.

2. like death.

   a deathly silence.

3. of, relating to, or indicating death; morbid.

   a deathly odor from the sepulcher.

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adverb

1. in the manner of death.

2. very; utterly.

   deathly afraid.

deathly British  

/ ˈdɛθlɪ /

adjective

1. deadly

2. resembling death

   a deathly quiet

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Other Word Forms

• deathliness noun
• predeathly adjective

Etymology

Origin of deathly

before 1000; Middle English dethlich, Old English dēathlīc. See death, -ly

Example Sentences

Jonah shot her a resentful glance, but she looked even worse than he felt: she was deathly pale, and her eyes were huge and round, as if she’d just been terrified out of her wits.

From Literature

The atmosphere among those who came to mourn the tragedy was deathly quiet.

From Barron's

The plant fragments at our feet darken, wither, and die almost immediately, as if deathly allergic to our positivity.

From Literature

It’s no surprise that many Latinos are obsessed with all things haunted, deathly and Halloween.

From Los Angeles Times

Brad Jacobs, the billionaire CEO of building-products distributor QXO, devoted a chapter in his book to “electric meetings,” noting many gatherings are deathly dull and full of passive listeners.

From The Wall Street Journal