DEADLY


Meaning of DEADLY in English

(deadlier, deadliest)

1.

If something is ~, it is likely or able to cause someone’s death, or has already caused someone’s death.

He was acquitted on charges of assault with a ~ weapon.

...a ~ disease currently affecting dolphins...

Passive smoking can be ~ too...

= lethal, fatal

ADJ

2.

If you describe a person or their behaviour as ~, you mean that they will do or say anything to get what they want, without caring about other people.

The Duchess levelled a ~ look at Nikko.

ADJ disapproval

3.

You can use ~ to emphasize that something has a particular quality, especially an unpleasant or undesirable quality.

Broadcast news was accurate and reliable but ~ dull...

= deathly

ADV: ADV adj emphasis

4.

A ~ situation has unpleasant or dangerous consequences.

...the ~ combination of low expectations and low achievement...

ADJ: usu ADJ n

5.

Deadly enemies or rivals fight or compete with each other in a very aggressive way.

The two became ~ enemies...

ADJ

Collins COBUILD.      Толковый словарь английского языка для изучающих язык Коллинз COBUILD (международная база данных языков Бирмингемского университета) .