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 older man was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died, according to the outlets.
—
Sam Gillette, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
One person was taken to the hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening, Fire-Rescue said.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
Otherwise the risk is that the disease could progress to life-threatening problems like respiratory failure, septic shock or acute kidney failure.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
The impact of a record-breaking, life-threatening heat dome on the U.S. coincided with the worst science denial in the 400 years since the Inquisition made the astronomer Galileo Galilei recant his belief that the Earth orbits the sun.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for life-threatening
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Sam Gillette, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
One person was taken to the hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening, Fire-Rescue said.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
Otherwise the risk is that the disease could progress to life-threatening problems like respiratory failure, septic shock or acute kidney failure.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
The impact of a record-breaking, life-threatening heat dome on the U.S. coincided with the worst science denial in the 400 years since the Inquisition made the astronomer Galileo Galilei recant his belief that the Earth orbits the sun.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 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 21 Aug. 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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