nonlethal
adjective
non·le·thal
ˌnän-ˈlē-thəl 
: not lethal : not capable of causing death
a nonlethal gas
nonlethal weapons
a nonlethal dose of venom
Examples of nonlethal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The legislation provides up to $5 million in nonlethal assistance for the struggling Haitian armed forces — the first congressional funding for the military since it was disbanded in the 1990s — and includes support for United Nations operations.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Officers fired beanbag rounds, a nonlethal alternative to bullets, to subdue Carter and take him into custody.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
The state spent more than $2 million on nonlethal efforts to drive the wolves away from human communities, working day and night over the summer to frighten them with drones, flags, rubber bullets and beanbags, among other methods.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The initial ruling blocked federal agents in Minnesota from arresting peaceful protesters or using pepper spray and other nonlethal munitions against them.
—Alexx Altman-Devilbiss, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2026
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Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Officers fired beanbag rounds, a nonlethal alternative to bullets, to subdue Carter and take him into custody.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
The state spent more than $2 million on nonlethal efforts to drive the wolves away from human communities, working day and night over the summer to frighten them with drones, flags, rubber bullets and beanbags, among other methods.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The initial ruling blocked federal agents in Minnesota from arresting peaceful protesters or using pepper spray and other nonlethal munitions against them.
—Alexx Altman-Devilbiss, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nonlethal
Cite this Entry
“Nonlethal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonlethal. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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