ENGLISH
REFERENCE

deadliest

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈdɛdɫiəst// UK //dˈɛdliəst// dead·li·est

adj. describes something that is the most likely to cause death or is the most dangerous.

adj. the superlative form of 'deadly'; refers to the entity or event that causes the greatest number of fatalities or possesses the highest potential for lethal outcomes.


SIMPLE

The cobra is one of the deadliest snakes in the world.

CONTEXTUAL

The 1918 flu pandemic remains one of the deadliest health crises in modern history, claiming millions of lives worldwide.

COMPLEX

While many predators rely on sheer strength, the deadliest species often utilize specialized toxins or camouflage to ensure their hunts are successful with minimal energy expenditure.

Synonyms
Usage

Superlative form; typically precedes the noun it modifies or follows a linking verb.

Pitfall

the most deadliestthe deadliestDeadliest is already a superlative; adding 'most' creates a double superlative error.

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