lethal

¹le·thal

adj \ˈlē-thəl\

Definition of LETHAL

1

a : of, relating to, or causing death <death by lethal injection> b : capable of causing death <lethal chemicals>

2

: gravely damaging or destructive : devastating <a lethal attack on his reputation>

3

: very potent or effective <a lethal fastball>; also : having a high alcohol content <a lethal rum punch>

— le·thal·i·ty \lē-ˈtha-lə-tē\ noun

— le·thal·ly \ˈlē-thə-lē\ adverb

Examples of LETHAL

1. a potentially lethal dose of a drug
2. He was sentenced to death by lethal injection.

Origin of LETHAL

Latin letalis, lethalis, from letum death

First Known Use: circa 1604

Related to LETHAL

Synonyms: baleful, deathly, fatal, fell, killer, deadly, mortal, murderous, pestilent, terminal, vital

Antonyms: healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal, wholesome

Related Words: baneful, deleterious, destructive, harmful, injurious, noxious, pernicious, truculent; infectious, infective, pestilential, poisonous, sublethal, toxic, virulent; dangerous, grave, grievous, hazardous, jeopardizing, menacing, parlous, perilous, risky, serious, threatening, ugly, unhealthy, unsound; bloody, internecine, sanguinary, sanguine

Near Antonyms: beneficial, restorative, salubrious, salutary; alleviative, corrective, curative, remedial, tonic; advantageous, beneficial, useful; nonpoisonous, nontoxic, safe

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See Synonym Discussion at deadly