Synonyms of mortal

mortal 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmȯr-tᵊl 

1

as in lethal

likely to cause or capable of causing death

a mortal wound

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lethal
• deadly
• fatal
• poisonous
• infectious
• infective
• killer
• deathly
• terminal
• harmful
• murderous
• toxic
• dangerous
• baleful
• fell
• pestilent
• vital
• hazardous
• destructive
• injurious
• baneful
• pernicious
• deleterious
• serious
• pestilential
• perilous
• virulent
• noxious
• risky
• grave
• ugly
• truculent
• sanguinary
• grievous
• threatening
• sublethal
• bloody
• menacing
• unhealthy
• parlous
• sanguine
• unsound
• internecine
• jeopardizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• healthy
• healthful
• wholesome
• beneficial
• nonfatal
• nonlethal
• salutary
• salubrious
• remedial
• restorative
• curative
• useful
• corrective
• tonic
• advantageous
• safe
• alleviative
• nontoxic
• nonpoisonous

2

as in deadly

of, relating to, or suggestive of death

a wounded soldier writhing in mortal agony

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deadly
• dead
• spectral
• lethal
• murderous
• deathly
• mortuary
• phantom
• fatal
• ghostly
• fell
• lifeless
• inert
• still
• quiescent
• cadaverous
• inactive
• killer
• inoperative
• ghostlike
• fateful
• macabre
• baleful
• pestilent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• active
• breathing
• live
• alive
• living
• animate
• vital
• vigorous
• gay
• energetic
• spirited
• animated
• vivacious
• lively
• whole
• sprightly
• frisky
• brisk
• pert
• well
• perky
• bouncing
• springy
• healthy
• spanking
• sound
• jazzy
• wholesome
• jaunty
• peppy
• racy
• hale
• snappy
• fit
• able-bodied
• robust
• hearty
• sparky
• zippy
• chipper
• sprightful

3

as in human

relating to or characteristic of human beings

just an ordinary guy with all the usual mortal limitations

Synonyms & Similar Words

• human
• natural
• earthborn
• anthropoid
• humanoid
• humanlike
• hominid
• creatural

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• divine
• nonhuman
• immortal
• superhuman
• godlike
• supernatural
• angelic
• supernormal
• omnipotent
• preternatural
• omniscient
• animal
• brute
• bestial
• beastly
• inhuman
• robotic
• subhuman
• infrahuman

4

as in hostile

marked by opposition or ill will

have always had a mortal aversion to narcissistic people

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hostile
• negative
• adverse
• adversary
• contentious
• unfavorable
• antagonistic
• inhospitable
• opposed
• unpleasant
• conflicting
• inimical
• adversarial
• unfriendly
• antipathetic
• jaundiced
• unsympathetic
• icy
• militant
• frigid
• distant
• malicious
• resisting
• contrary
• disagreeable
• belligerent
• combative
• malignant
• pugnacious
• bellicose
• antisocial
• quarrelsome
• cold
• truculent
• clashing
• disputatious
• malevolent
• hateful
• bitter
• argumentative
• scrappy
• unkind
• rude
• virulent
• surly
• unmannerly
• vindictive
• disapproving
• malign
• spiteful
• impertinent
• biased
• inconsiderate
• discourteous
• unsociable
• uncivil
• cool
• prejudiced
• acrimonious
• opprobrious
• impolite
• rancorous
• unloving
• ill-mannered
• despiteful
• ill-bred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• social
• sympathetic
• civil
• friendly
• hospitable
• amiable
• pleasant
• warm
• gracious
• genial
• nonhostile
• cordial
• affable
• neighborly
• companionable
• loving
• kind
• gregarious
• convivial
• sociable
• amicable
• sweet
• nonantagonistic
• affectionate
• benign
• good-natured
• kindly
• devoted
• nice
• favorable
• agreeable
• comradely
• accepting
• understanding
• good-tempered
• empathetic
• welcoming
• warmhearted
• approving

mortal

2 of 2

noun

as in person

a member of the human race

just an ordinary mortal living an ordinary life

Synonyms & Similar Words

• person
• life
• man
• creature
• guy
• human
• soul
• individual
• thing
• body
• bird
• being
• fish
• sort
• baby
• customer
• devil
• egg
• character
• human being
• specimen
• duck
• party
• face
• personage
• personality
• scout
• cookie
• bod
• wight
• fellow
• son of man
• stiff
• slob
• head
• brother
• self
• homo
• humanoid
• hominid
• neighbor
• somebody
• celebrity
• fellowman

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• animal
• beast
• brute
• critter
• beastie

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective mortal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mortal are deadly, fatal, and lethal. While all these words mean "causing or capable of causing death," mortal implies that death has occurred or is inevitable.

a mortal wound

When might deadly be a better fit than mortal?

While in some cases nearly identical to mortal, deadly applies to an established or very likely cause of death.

a deadly disease

When is fatal a more appropriate choice than mortal?

The words fatal and mortal can be used in similar contexts, but fatal stresses the inevitability of what has in fact resulted in death or destruction.

fatal consequences

Where would lethal be a reasonable alternative to mortal?

In some situations, the words lethal and mortal are roughly equivalent. However, lethal applies to something that is bound to cause death or exists for the destruction of life.

lethal gas

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of mortal

Adjective

Yet there’s wisdom amid the silliness, as the story gently makes a case for the necessity of grief, mindfulness and mortal awareness, even in a life otherwise unburdened by adult human responsibility. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026

In an unexpected twist, the Timberwolves have made Nuggets' three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic seem mortal. —Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026

Noun

Everflame is set in a world where mortals live in poverty, subjugated by an elite race known as the Descended. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026

Hathaway, in disheveled straight blonde hair parted down the middle to its thick dark roots, does a convincing job of showing us that Mary, while devoted to her art (and her fame — the two can’t be separated), is a mere mortal who wears her onstage persona like a cosmic costume. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 Apr. 2026