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

/ ˈliːθəl; liːˈθælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. able to cause or causing death
2. of or suggestive of death

Derived Forms

• lethality, noun
• ˈlethally, adverb

Other Words From

• le·thal·i·ty [lee-, thal, -i-tee], le·thal·ness noun
• le·thal·ly adverb
• hy·per·le·thal adjective
• non·le·thal adjective
• non·le·thal·ly adverb
• sem·i·le·thal 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

Military education must be about more than how to effectively apply lethal force and undertake combat operations.

From Time

Variants are emerging that could be more contagious and more lethal than existing strains.

From Washington Post

The mutation appears to spread more easily than other variants, but there is no evidence that it is more lethal or causes more severe illness.

From Washington Post

The exception is the variant spreading in the United Kingdom, which may be roughly 30 percent more lethal, British scientists said recently, acknowledging their evidence is preliminary.

From Washington Post

So it’s a highly lethal malignancy where we definitely need to make additional advances.

From Freakonomics

But others say a still-unidentified man likely fired the round that caused a lethal head wound.

From The Daily Beast

After World War I, unions began their losing and lethal battle with textile owners across the South.

From The Daily Beast

Servin is a rarity: A cop who is being tried for his lethal actions.

From The Daily Beast

Here are just a few of the most egregious uses of lethal force by Chicago police.

From The Daily Beast

“Here the implementation of lethal force was a reasonable response under the circumstances,” she said.

From The Daily Beast

Our friend, however, was new to the camera, and (very pardonably) thought that it was a lethal weapon.

From Project Gutenberg

(60 grains) of concentrated acid killed an adult, is the smallest lethal dose on record.

From Project Gutenberg

As my fist completed but half its lethal orbit, the officer blew up in my face!

From Project Gutenberg

"Captain, there are lethal radiations being released here," he said.

From Project Gutenberg

In the hold, Kerk and Meta had opened some of the crates and were chortling with joy over their lethal contents.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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