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
During pregnancy, invasive listeriosis can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
—
Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 29 Sep. 2025
One victim was pronounced dead on the scene and the other was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
The woman later died from her injuries; the Rav4 driver, who was not identified, suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening, police said.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2025
These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
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Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 29 Sep. 2025
One victim was pronounced dead on the scene and the other was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
The woman later died from her injuries; the Rav4 driver, who was not identified, suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening, police said.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2025
These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 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 7 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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