Words / B1

DEDL-ee/ˈdedli/

Deadly means likely to cause death: a deadly virus; deadly force. It also means extremely serious or effective (deadly serious; a deadly accurate pass). Fatal is a close twin for accidents. Lethal is more technical. Do not call a boring lesson deadly in an essay unless you mean it kills — use dull. UK news: deadly stabbing; a deadly combination of heat and housing.

Meaning

Likely to cause death; also extremely effective or serious.

Examples

• “The report warned of a deadly mix of heat and poor housing.”
• “The striker was deadly from the penalty spot, which is the “effective” sense.”

Good to know

a deadly virus / mix / weapon. Close (death): fatal / lethal. Informal: deadly dull. Not a mild inconvenience. News: deadly force.

Near in meaning

fatal

New