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

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

According to Roberts, the United States needs to build up “the most lethal force in the world,” a force Roberts claims he would like to be “the most sparingly used.”

From Salon

He also said that women should not serve in combat roles because he argued it had not made the military "more effective" or "more lethal".

From BBC

Gonzalez said deputies could only respond with lethal force in a life-and-death situation.

From Los Angeles Times

A rare and lethal brain disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob causes changes in brain tissue and affects muscle coordination and memory, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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