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
- a potentially lethal dose of a drug
- 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
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
See Synonym Discussion at deadly
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