Fatally: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when describing an action or event that leads to death. Often used in news, medical reports, or formal contexts.

• He was fatally injured in the car accident.
• The disease spread fatally without proper treatment.

Used to describe something that has the capability to cause death. Common in scientific contexts or when talking about weapons.

• The snake's venom acts lethally within minutes.
• This substance can be lethally toxic if ingested.

Used in a more literary or dramatic sense to describe injuries or wounds that lead to death. Less common in everyday language.

• He was mortally wounded in the duel.
• The knight received a mortally serious blow.

Used when describing a situation that results in death or ultimate failure.

• He was fatally injured in the accident.
• The project was fatally flawed from the beginning.

Suitable for describing situations or actions that cannot be undone or returned to their original state.

• The environment has been irreversibly damaged by pollution.
• His decision changed their lives irreversibly.

Best for describing formal or serious situations where actions or decisions cannot be taken back or reversed.

• The adoption papers once signed are irrevocably binding.
• Their relationship was irrevocably broken after the betrayal.