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Definition of mortalnext
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mortal

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective mortal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mortal are deadly, fatal, and lethal. While all these words mean "causing or capable of causing death," mortal implies that death has occurred or is inevitable.

a mortal wound

When might deadly be a better fit than mortal?

While in some cases nearly identical to mortal, deadly applies to an established or very likely cause of death.

a deadly disease

When is fatal a more appropriate choice than mortal?

The words fatal and mortal can be used in similar contexts, but fatal stresses the inevitability of what has in fact resulted in death or destruction.

fatal consequences

Where would lethal be a reasonable alternative to mortal?

In some situations, the words lethal and mortal are roughly equivalent. However, lethal applies to something that is bound to cause death or exists for the destruction of life.

lethal gas

How does the adjective mortal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mortal are deadly, fatal, and lethal. While all these words mean "causing or capable of causing death," mortal implies that death has occurred or is inevitable.

a mortal wound

When might deadly be a better fit than mortal?

While in some cases nearly identical to mortal, deadly applies to an established or very likely cause of death.

a deadly disease

When is fatal a more appropriate choice than mortal?

The words fatal and mortal can be used in similar contexts, but fatal stresses the inevitability of what has in fact resulted in death or destruction.

fatal consequences

Where would lethal be a reasonable alternative to mortal?

In some situations, the words lethal and mortal are roughly equivalent. However, lethal applies to something that is bound to cause death or exists for the destruction of life.

lethal gas

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mortal
Adjective
On top of that, UConn has looked mortal as of late. Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026 No one can argue that Lululemon is in any mortal danger. Phil Wahba, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
Noun
Natalie Haynes fleshes out the backstories of her cast—Jason, a handsome ship captain on a quest for the Golden Fleece, the scheming sorceress Medea, and Olympian deities toying with mortals like marionettes—and imbues them all with contemporary vibes. Hamilton Cain, Time, 3 Mar. 2026 In fact, praying to saints or ancestors elevated them above the status of mere mortals, effectively denying the singular might of God. Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mortal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mortal
Adjective
  • The planned execution of Thomas Creech in 2024 could not be carried out because a suitable vein could not be found to administer lethal drugs.
    Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The punishment stipulated under the new law is death by hanging, after the Israeli Medical Association's ethics board said last year that its members would be prohibited from administering lethal injections, according to Israeli media.
    Matt Bradley, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • State inspectors had never once visited the Esparto facility before the deadly blast; that responsibility fell only to local authorities, until now.
    Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Are all fungi dangerous or deadly?
    Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • No human journalist was harmed in this experiment.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 30 Mar. 2026
  • How do these remarks square with Brooks’s fondness for compressing expansive human goods into orderly formulas?
    Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The 45th president’s victory in the crowded 2016 primary effectively toppled the existing Republican Establishment, injecting the party with a combination of populism and distrust that was especially hostile to the way things were done before.
    Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Customers will keep fighting back with dirty returns, unused reservations and hostile reviews.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • According to a source in the room, there were about 250 members of the donor community at the event, which cost at least $100,000 per person to attend.
    Gabe Kaminsky, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Assault with a dangerous weapon on a person 60 or older.
    Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • That is the highest-level designation for severe accidents, placing it alongside the fatal Challenger (1986) and Columbia (2003) shuttle disasters in terms of gravity.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The cause of that fatal accident remains under investigation.
    Anna McAllister, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • His reelection in 2025 sparked widespread protests that left at least four people dead, signaling growing tensions between the mostly young population and its aging leader.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Andrej Stojaković’s putback attempt rolled around the rim before coming to a dead stop on the back of the basket as everyone in the massive football stadium held their breath and waited for gravity to make a call.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Court records and large-scale studies indicate that elite colleges’ race-aware and holistic admissions systems have operated as a negative factor for Asian American applicants, contributing to lower admission/attendance odds than similarly qualified white applicants.
    David Blobaum, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Apple’s latest iPhone software update is drawing attention—some of which is negative—not just for its incremental upgrades, but also for a shift in how users interact with one of its core apps.
    Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mortal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mortal. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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