adj
deathly
DEHTH-lee
Deathly (adj) means resembling death, or so extreme it suggests death. Example: “Her face turned a deathly shade of pale.”
adj
1
Resembling death, or so extreme it suggests death.
"Her face turned a deathly shade of pale."
"A deathly silence fell over the courtroom."
adv
1
Extremely; to a degree that suggests death.
"He was deathly afraid of needles."
How to use deathly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLooking or feeling like death, or (as an intensifier) extremely.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with deadly (causing death) — deathly describes something that resembles or evokes death, not something that kills.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
deathly pale
deathly silence
deathly afraid
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Word forms
- Comparative
- deathlier, more deathly
- Superlative
- deathliest, most deathly
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her face turned a _____ shade of pale.
Etymology
From Old English deathlic, built from death plus -lic (the ancestor of -ly).
Synonyms
View more →Related words
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.
