lethal
[lee-thuh l]
- of, relating to, or causing death; deadly; fatal: a lethal weapon; a lethal dose.
- made or carried out to cause death: a lethal chamber; a lethal attack.
- causing great harm or destruction: The disclosures were lethal to his candidacy.
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Origin of lethal
1575–85; < Latin lētālis, equivalent to lēt(um) death + -ālis -al1; spelling (hence pronunciation) with -h- by association with Greek lḗthē oblivion
Synonyms
See more synonyms for lethal on Thesaurus.com1. See fatal.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for lethal
Contemporary Examples
But others say a still-unidentified man likely fired the round that caused a lethal head wound.
After World War I, unions began their losing and lethal battle with textile owners across the South.
Servin is a rarity: A cop who is being tried for his lethal actions.
Chicago’s Cops Don’t Even Get Investigated for Shooting People in the BackJustin Glawe
December 5, 2014
Here are just a few of the most egregious uses of lethal force by Chicago police.
Chicago’s Cops Don’t Even Get Investigated for Shooting People in the BackJustin Glawe
December 5, 2014
“Here the implementation of lethal force was a reasonable response under the circumstances,” she said.
Worse Than Eric Garner: Cops Who Got Away With Killing Autistic Men and Little GirlsEmily Shire
December 4, 2014
Historical Examples
He'd destroyed the lethal bacterial cultures they'd been ordered to dump on Weald.
Pariah PlanetMurray Leinster
It was almost as if he had emerged from the lethal presence of the fumigator itself.
The Market-PlaceHarold Frederic
How long had they been under the influence of the lethal stuff?
In desperation, Taber fired at the lethal fist that held the weapon.
Ten From InfinityPaul W. Fairman
History is full of cruel tragedies caused by the lethal sex.
Love Among the ChickensP. G. Wodehouse
lethal
- able to cause or causing death
- of or suggestive of death
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin lēthālis, from lētum death
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for lethal
adj.
1580s, from Late Latin lethalis, alteration of Latin letalis "deadly, fatal," from letum "death," of uncertain origin. Form altered in Late Latin by association with lethe hydor "water of oblivion" in Hades in Greek mythology, from Greek lethe "forgetfulness."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
lethal
(lē′thəl)- Capable of causing death.
- Of, relating to, or causing death.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.