deathly
7 synonyms for deathly, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Resembling death, or so extreme it suggests death.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
deathlike
whopping
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Resembling death, or so extreme it suggests death.
“Her face turned a deathly shade of pale.”
2. adv
Extremely; to a degree that suggests death.
“He was deathly afraid of needles.”
How to use deathly
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
deathly pale
deathly silence
deathly afraid
Etymology
From Old English deathlic, built from death plus -lic (the ancestor of -ly).
Full origin of deathly →Frequently asked questions
What does “deathly” mean?
The word “deathly” means resembling death, or so extreme it suggests death. In plain terms, looking or feeling like death, or (as an intensifier) extremely.
How do you pronounce “deathly”?
“Deathly” is pronounced DEHTH-lee (/ˈdɛθli/ in IPA).
How do you use “deathly” in a sentence?
Here is “deathly” used in a sentence: “Her face turned a deathly shade of pale.”
What part of speech is “deathly”?
Depending on how it is used, “deathly” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “deathly” come from?
The word “deathly” comes from Old English. From Old English deathlic, built from death plus -lic (the ancestor of -ly).
How many meanings does “deathly” have?
“Deathly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: resembling death, or so extreme it suggests death.
