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
Within my company’s own portfolio, companies are using AI to do everything from diagnosing life-threatening cardiac conditions to automating private market investment processes, building personalized travel maps and creating interactive digital shopping experiences.
—
Evan Renov, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Swells generated by Flossie are also likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 1 July 2025
They were taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood with life-threatening injuries, and Vasquez was pronounced dead.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025
With the immigration court system under so much stress, and with immigration enforcement policy changing rapidly, many immigrants have a difficult choice: remain in the U.S. and face rising uncertainty, or return to a home country and face potentially life-threatening circumstances.
—Renata Daou, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
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Evan Renov, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Swells generated by Flossie are also likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 1 July 2025
They were taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood with life-threatening injuries, and Vasquez was pronounced dead.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025
With the immigration court system under so much stress, and with immigration enforcement policy changing rapidly, many immigrants have a difficult choice: remain in the U.S. and face rising uncertainty, or return to a home country and face potentially life-threatening circumstances.
—Renata Daou, Hartford Courant, 30 June 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 9 Jul. 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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