lethal

[lee-thuhl]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or causing death; deadly; fatal: a lethal dose.

   a lethal weapon;

   a lethal dose.

2. made or carried out to cause death: a lethal attack.

   a lethal chamber;

   a lethal attack.

3. causing great harm or destruction.

   The disclosures were lethal to his candidacy.

lethal

/ liːˈθælɪtɪ, ˈliːθəl /

adjective

1. able to cause or causing death

2. of or suggestive of death

Other Word Forms

• lethality noun
• lethalness noun
• lethally adverb
• hyperlethal adjective
• nonlethal adjective
• nonlethally adverb
• semilethal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lethal¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin lētālis, equivalent to lēt(um) “death” + -ālis -al ¹; spelling (hence pronunciation) with -h- by association with Greek lḗthē “oblivion”; Lethe ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of lethal¹

C16: from Latin lēthālis, from lētum death

Synonym Study

See fatal.

Example Sentences

The authorities were also accused of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and using lethal force against the protesters.

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Marc Cucurella's cross found Olmo in the box and he controlled it well to bypass a defender before finishing lethally in the fourth minute.

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It was nearly ten, but all this talk of lethal tar pits and strange illnesses had kept the children riveted.

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Until now, however, scientists lacked precise data on how much plastic is lethal for animals of different sizes.

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Sheikh Hasina was found guilty of allowing lethal force to be used against protesters, 1,400 of whom died during the unrest last year.

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Related Words

• dangerous 
• destructive 
• devastating 
• fatal 
• harmful 
• malignant 
• mortal 
• murderous 
• noxious 
• pernicious 
• poisonous 
• virulent