as in deadly
likely to cause or capable of causing death
we were lucky that the snake's venom wasn't lethal, and our friend turned out to be all right
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Recent Examples of lethal
Being outdoors for even a brief period of time can be lethal.
—
Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
Prolonged skin damage greatly increases risks of bacterial infections that can quickly turn lethal.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
Since then, the Islamic regime’s security forces have used extreme lethal force, including military-grade weapons, against unarmed protesters.
—Hamid Kashani, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
Like any lethal use of force incident involving law enforcement, there should be a thorough review of the facts.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lethal
Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
Prolonged skin damage greatly increases risks of bacterial infections that can quickly turn lethal.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
Since then, the Islamic regime’s security forces have used extreme lethal force, including military-grade weapons, against unarmed protesters.
—Hamid Kashani, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
Like any lethal use of force incident involving law enforcement, there should be a thorough review of the facts.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lethal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lethal
Adjective
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Administration public health officials often cite the need to restore trust in public health systems after the coronavirus pandemic, when vaccine policy and the general public health response to the deadly pandemic became a highly polarizing topic in American politics.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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The Metropolitan Police Department made another arrest in connection with a deadly 2023 shooting outside a Northeast Washington nightclub that killed former Morgan State University basketball player Blake Bozeman and injured three others.—
7News WJLA,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Italy’s specialist mountain rescue organization revealed the fatal disasters were caused by weak layers of fresh snow, unstable enough that the passage of a single person could trigger an avalanche.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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The fatal shootings and immigration agents' tactics in Minnesota have alienated a growing share of Americans and caused friction within the Republican Party.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless poisonous gas that at high levels can cause loss of consciousness and death.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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Kirk recognized that this crude conspiracism was poisonous to his project of popularizing the conservative cause.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lethal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lethal. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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