lethal
word
/ˈɫiθəɫ/
LEE-thuhl
/lˈiːθəl/
LEE-thuhl
Definition
Able to cause death; something so dangerous or harmful that it can kill.
Usage & Nuances
'Lethal' is formal or scientific; often used in 'lethal weapon', 'lethal dose', or 'lethal injection'. It is stronger than 'dangerous', specifically meaning able to cause death, not just harm.
Spanish: letal - mortalPortuguese (BR): letal - mortalPortuguese (PT): letal - mortalChinese (Simplified): 致命的 - 危险的Chinese (Traditional): 致命的 - 危險的Hindi: घातकArabic: قاتل - مميتBengali: মারণ - প্রাণঘাতীRussian: смертельныйJapanese: 致命的Vietnamese: chết ngườiKorean: 치명적인Turkish: ölümcülUrdu: مہلکIndonesian: mematikan
Example Sentences
This snake's bite can be lethal to humans.
basic
A lethal dose of this medicine can kill you.
basic
Some chemicals are lethal if not handled carefully.
basic
That was a lethal mistake; the company never recovered from it.
natural
He has a lethal sense of humor that catches everyone off guard.
natural
Be careful—those mushrooms can be lethal if you eat them by mistake.
natural