different between merciless vs deadly

English

Etymology

From Middle English merciles, mercyles, equivalent to mercy +? -less.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?m??s?l?s/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?m?s?l?s/

Adjective

merciless (comparative more merciless, superlative most merciless)

1. Showing no mercy; cruel and pitiless.

Synonyms

• unmerciful
• cruel
• pitiless
• ruthless

Derived terms

• mercilessly
• mercilessness

Translations

Anagrams

• crimeless

English

Etymology

From Middle English dedly, dedlych, dedlich, from Old English d?adl?? (adjective); corresponding to dead +? -ly. Cognate with Dutch dodelijk, German tödlich.

The adverb is from Middle English dedliche, from Old English d?adl??e (adverb), from the adjective.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?d?d.li/

Adjective

deadly (comparative deadlier or more deadly, superlative deadliest or most deadly)

1. (obsolete, rare) Subject to death; mortal.
2. Causing death; lethal.
3. Aiming or willing to destroy; implacable; desperately hostile.
4. Very accurate (of aiming with a bow, firearm, etc.).
5. (informal) Very boring.
6. (informal) Excellent, awesome, cool.

Usage notes

In Australia, the sense "excellent, awesome, cool" is especially used by, or in connection with, Indigenous Australians.

Derived terms

• deadliness
• deadly sin

Translations

Adverb

deadly (comparative more deadly, superlative most deadly)

1. (obsolete) Fatally, mortally.
2. In a way which suggests death.

3. Extremely, incredibly.

Usage notes

Some adjectives commonly collocating with deadly: serious, clever, good

Derived terms

• fail-deadly

Translations

Related terms

• dead