deathly

IPA/ˈdeθli/
KK[dˈɛθli]IPA/ˈdeθli/

deathly — adjective

  • deathlypositive
  • deathliercomparative
  • deathliestsuperlative

1. so silent, still, or complete that it feels frightening and unnatural

1.形容詞C1
釋義

so silent, still, or complete that it feels frightening and unnatural

例句

A deathly silence filled the gym after the principal read the names.

deathly + silence for complete, uneasy quiet

When the lights failed, a deathly hush spread through the crowded tunnel.

deathly + hush for sudden fearful quiet

同義詞
  • eerie

    adds a strange, fearful mood, but does not always suggest total quiet.

  • ominous

    suggests that something bad may happen, rather than the silence itself.

  • unnatural

    broader descriptive word without the death-related image.

反義詞
  • lively

    full of movement, sound, or energy instead of eerie stillness.

  • noisy

    emphasizes noticeable sound rather than silence.

  • bustling

    describes active movement and busy sound, often in public places.

文法句型

deathly + silence/hush/stillness/quiet

用法筆記

Usually used before nouns such as silence, hush, stillness, or quiet. It suggests not just a lack of sound but an atmosphere that feels tense, eerie, or wrong.

常見錯誤

❌a deathly disease
✅a deadly disease
💡'deadly' means causing death, while 'deathly' more often describes eerie stillness or a death-like look.
❌The crowd became deathly loud after the goal.
✅The crowd became deafeningly loud after the goal.
💡'deathly' is used for frightening quiet or an unnaturally grim look, not for loud noise.

2. having a pale, cold, or lifeless look that makes someone or something seem near

2.形容詞C1
釋義

having a pale, cold, or lifeless look that makes someone or something seem near death

例句

The nurse noticed a deathly pallor on Walid's face after the fever.

deathly + pallor for corpse-like appearance

In the mirror, the actor's makeup gave him a deathly appearance.

deathly + appearance in dramatic description

同義詞
  • corpse-like

    stronger and more explicit about looking like a dead body.

  • ghostly

    often suggests something supernatural, not necessarily actual illness or shock.

  • ashen

    focuses mainly on pale grey colour, especially in a person's face.

反義詞
  • healthy-looking

    suggests normal colour and strength rather than lifeless appearance.

  • rosy

    emphasizes warm, healthy colour in the face.

文法句型

deathly + pallor/face/appearance/grin

用法筆記

Often used before nouns such as pallor, face, grin, or appearance in literary, dramatic, or medical description. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes how someone or something looks, not how complete a silence or stillness feels.

常見錯誤

❌Her blouse was deathly white.
✅Her blouse was bright white.
💡'deathly' usually suggests a person or thing that looks lifeless or corpse-like, not simply a clean white colour.
❌He looked deadly pale after the fall.
✅He looked deathly pale after the fall.
💡when the meaning is corpse-like appearance, English usually uses 'deathly', not 'deadly'.