Deadly-Deathly | Commonly Confused Words
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Master confusing words with ease

Deadly vs. Deathly

Deadly

/ˈdedli/
Causing or able to cause death; very dangerous or likely to kill.

Examples:

The last three days had certainly been deadly for her.'I am Envy,' the Deadly Sin told him.'I am Gluttony,' the Deadly Sin replied.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Deathly

/ˈdeθli/
Causing or related to death or resembling death.

Examples:

The silence in the hall was deathly, unnerving all present.His complexion turned a deathly shade upon hearing the news.A deathly aroma lingered in the room, unsettling the guests.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Deadly often suggests that something is capable of causing death, while deathly conveys more of a resemblance or connection to death.
  • Deadly is used more for active agents like weapons or poisons that can cause death.
  • Deathly typically describes something that resembles death in appearance, mood, or sound, such as silence or pallor.
  • You can also consider deadly as an attribute impacting life directly, whereas deathly is more about an indirect association with death.
  • One way to remember is deadly directly leads to death, while deathly has a ghostly or eerie quality.
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