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

/ liːˈθælɪtɪ; ˈliːθəl /

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

She pledged to stand by our allies, stand up to dictators and ensure that America had the world’s most lethal fighting force.

From Salon

"The air we breathe is lethally toxic," he wrote.

From BBC

But also, how that music was muffled by lethal instruments of capitalism and control, still a factor on the global stage.

From Los Angeles Times

“It hasn’t made us more effective. It hasn’t made us more lethal. It has made fighting more complicated.”

From Salon

The case stems from a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles alleging that the unit was run by a “SWAT Mafia” of influential veteran cops who “glamorize the use of lethal force.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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