life-threatening
adjective
life-threat·en·ing
ˈlīf-ˌthre-tᵊn-iŋ 
-ˌthret-niŋ
: capable of causing death : potentially fatal
a life-threatening disease/condition
The injuries are serious but not life-threatening.
Examples of life-threatening in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The details of his condition and what prompted his lengthy absence are not clear, although a news release issued by the city last year said Richardson had undergone multiple life-threatening surgeries.
—
Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2025
All five surviving victims were stable as of Sunday afternoon and their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, police said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025
When officials arrived, the vehicle was no longer at the scene, and the child was transported to a hospital in Providence with critical, but non-life-threatening injuries, Patch reported.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
More serious, life-threatening allergies, called anaphylaxis, can also occur.
—Kathi Valeii Published, Verywell Health, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for life-threatening
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Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2025
All five surviving victims were stable as of Sunday afternoon and their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, police said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025
When officials arrived, the vehicle was no longer at the scene, and the child was transported to a hospital in Providence with critical, but non-life-threatening injuries, Patch reported.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
More serious, life-threatening allergies, called anaphylaxis, can also occur.
—Kathi Valeii Published, Verywell Health, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for life-threatening
Cite this Entry
“Life-threatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life-threatening. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
life-threatening
adjective
life-threat·en·ing
ˈlīf-ˌthret-ən-iŋ
: capable of causing death : potentially fatal
life-threatening injuries
a life-threatening allergic reaction
life-threatening arrhythmia
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