life-altering

American  

[lahyf-awl-ter-ing] / ˈlaɪfˌɔl tər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. resulting in a major and usually negative or challenging change in one's life (typically used of an injury, diagnosis, or the like.). Compare life-changing.

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Other Word Forms

• life-alteringly
  adverb

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

life-altering

But the life-altering event comes not in the form of fulfilling her life’s dream, but as an unexpected cancer diagnosis, handed to her just as she’s scheduled to wrap production on her short.

From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2026

Studies show these incidents can have life-altering effects on the surrounding community on everything from depressed home values for more than a decade to increases in risk of cancer and respiratory illness.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

As I struggled with my confusion, I did something that sounds simple, but was profoundly life-altering: I diversified my news sources.

From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2026

The band is pitched right at a difficult juncture at which their artistic ambitions abut real, life-altering attention.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2026

Mom: "Her face. Can you get her back to—" Doc cuts her off: "No. You can't think that way. This is a life-altering event."

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin