Word
deadliest
Phoneticsdead·li·est
US/ˈdɛdɫiəst/
UK/dˈɛdliəst/
Definition
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.
Examples
“The cobra is one of the deadliest snakes in the world.”
“The 1918 flu pandemic remains one of the deadliest health crises in modern history, claiming millions of lives worldwide.”
“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.”
Examples
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.”
Usage
Superlative form; typically precedes the noun it modifies or follows a linking verb.
Pitfall
the most deadliest
the deadliest
Deadliest is already a superlative; adding 'most' creates a double superlative error.
Real-World Examples
“Israel kills 11 in deadliest attacks on Lebanon since June truce as Iran and Oman continue talks on Hormuz.” “Eighteen children were among the people killed, Zimbabwe’s police said, in what is believed to be the country’s deadliest such disaster.” “The deadliest strike of the month occurred on 2 July.”