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deathly

[deth-lee] / ˈdɛθ li /
ADJECTIVE
suggesting end of life
Synonyms
WEAK
appalling cadaverous corpselike deathlike defunctive dreadful gaunt ghastly grim gruesome haggard horrible macabre pale pallid wan wasted
Antonyms
WEAK
animated beginning benign blooming blossoming harmless healthful healthy life-giving lively strengthening
ADJECTIVE
fatal
Synonyms
WEAK
deadly extreme intense lethal mortal mortiferous noxious pestilent pestilential terrible
Antonyms
WEAK
animated beginning benign blooming blossoming harmless healthful healthy life-giving lively strengthening

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“A lot of people are deathly afraid of losing all their money,” Perkins told me, back at his Austin, Texas, compound.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

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

From Barron's • Jan. 1, 2026

He could have been totally fine, or he could have gotten deathly ill.

From Salon • Aug. 16, 2025

As he struggled with a system, which aimed to preserve secrecy and deepen separation, he didn’t know about a deathly further dimension to the institutional inhumanity.

From BBC • Jul. 12, 2025

I looked up to see that deathly shadow being thrown into the air upon the horns of my Patronus.

From "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling

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