as in deadly
likely to cause or capable of causing death
we were lucky that the snake's venom wasn't lethal, and our friend turned out to be all right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lethal
Lukehart, 53, is scheduled to die by lethal injection June 2 at Florida State Prison in Stark, according to the warrant.
—
Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
According to the Army, this speed was made possible through the use of 3D printing for the warhead housing and the Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit (CLIK), which serves as a universal interface for attaching lethal payloads to various drone platforms.
—New Atlas, 4 May 2026
The same-day executions by lethal injection came about an hour and a half apart on Thursday, April 30.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 1 May 2026
James Ernest Hitchcock, 69, was put to death by lethal injection Thursday evening at Florida State Prison in Starke for the rape and murder of his brother’s 13-year-old stepdaughter nearly 50 years ago.
—Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lethal
Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
According to the Army, this speed was made possible through the use of 3D printing for the warhead housing and the Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit (CLIK), which serves as a universal interface for attaching lethal payloads to various drone platforms.
—New Atlas, 4 May 2026
The same-day executions by lethal injection came about an hour and a half apart on Thursday, April 30.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 1 May 2026
James Ernest Hitchcock, 69, was put to death by lethal injection Thursday evening at Florida State Prison in Starke for the rape and murder of his brother’s 13-year-old stepdaughter nearly 50 years ago.
—Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lethal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lethal
Adjective
-
Hantavirus is more common in Asia and Europe, where the strains that circulate are less deadly, with a case fatality rate that ranges from less than 1% to 15%.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
-
Germany has been rocked by a string of deadly car ramming attacks in recent years.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Homicide detectives are investigating the fatal shootings of three adults in Baldwin Park last week — two of whom were a married couple, officials said, who were being mourned by their college-age children.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Police have arrested a man on murder and firearm charges in connection with a fatal shooting in Stratford earlier this month.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Restoring the balance of the humors through profusely bleeding the patient or inducing vomiting or diarrhea with the poisonous plant hellebore.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
There’s a steadiness to Tung/Wonder Woman that stands out for its quiet authority in a frequently goofy landscape peppered with poisonous robes and finger-eating minions.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lethal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lethal. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
