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sublethal

American  
[suhb-lee-thuhl] / sʌbˈli θəl /

adjective

  1. almost lethal or fatal.

    a sublethal dose of poison.


Etymology

Origin of sublethal

First recorded in 1890–95; sub- + lethal

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The right whale consortium said sublethal injuries to whales from collisions and fishing gear are also a major concern for the remaining population.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 23, 2023

But subtler, sublethal effects, like those described above for DDT, could be much farther-reaching.

From Scientific American • Mar. 22, 2023

However, it can be hard to document and understand sublethal toxicity.

From Salon • Nov. 12, 2022

“This DDT story, and contaminants interfering with reproduction, is what we call a sublethal exposure,” said Tubbs, a reproductive sciences expert at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2022

Many of the microscopic parasites that produced malaria would survive the sublethal dose and produce offspring capable of withstanding a full dose of the medicine.

From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy

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