Standard Lemma guide

deathly

adj · adv · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈdɛθli/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛθli
  • CMU ARPABET: D EH1 TH L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Appearing as though dead, or on the verge of death.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He has a deathly pallor.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Deadly, fatal, causing death.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Extreme.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He has a deathly fear of crocodiles.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adv

Meaning 4

In a way that resembles death.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He was deathly pale.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adv

Meaning 5

Extremely, dreadfully.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The water was deathly cold.
  • He was deathly afraid of crocodiles.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

having the physical appearance of death

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a deathly pallor

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: deathlike

Antonyms: none provided

7

adjective satellite

Meaning 7

causing or capable of causing death

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a fatal accident
  • a deadly enemy
  • mortal combat
  • a mortal illness

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: deadly, mortal

Antonyms: none provided

8

adverb

Meaning 8

to a degree resembling death

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he was deathly pale

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English dethlich, from Old English dēaþlīċ, equivalent to death + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: kuolon — appearing as though dead
  • German: tödlich — appearing as though dead
  • Middle English: dedly — appearing as though dead
  • Russian: смерте́льный (smertélʹnyj) — appearing as though dead
  • Finnish: kuolettava — fatal, causing death
  • Finnish: tappava — fatal, causing death
  • German: tödlich — fatal, causing death
  • Polish: zabójczy — fatal, causing death
  • Polish: śmiertelny — fatal, causing death
  • Polish: śmiercionośny — fatal, causing death
  • Russian: смерте́льный (smertélʹnyj) — fatal, causing death
  • Russian: роково́й (rokovój) — fatal, causing death
  • Russian: фата́льный (fatálʹnyj) — fatal, causing death
  • Finnish: kuollakseen — extreme
  • Russian: смерте́льный (smertélʹnyj) — extreme