Definition of mortalnext
1
2
3
4

mortal

2 of 2

noun

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

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 mortal
Adjective
The France captain was in excellent form until his mortal performance against Spain. Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026 The divine truth of man’s relation to God, Spirit, as His reflection negates any sense of life as mortal or as including physical concepts of identity that inevitably result in limitations and barriers. Leslie Revilock, Christian Science Monitor, 20 July 2026
Noun
The Netflix series is set in a fictional version of Korea’s Joseon dynasty in which the line between the world of mortals and the world of spirits is traversable. Kayti Burt, Time, 17 July 2026 Regardless, fashion history is rife with references to the goddesses and mortals who populate these monumental tales. Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mortal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mortal
Adjective
  • Japan’s recent scrapping of lethal weapons export ban could also help strengthen the country's underdeveloped defense industry.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The movie’s pièce de résistance is a massive massacre sequence in which an entire school of kids turns on the adults in their lives, killing their parents and teachers by using every school supply in sight as a lethal weapon.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 3 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Since then, the military have kept her exact whereabouts and condition secret as a deadly civil war has engulfed much of the impoverished Southeast Asian nation.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Moscow mayor calls Saturday's deadly bomb attack on restaurant a 'terrorist act.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The piece urges critical inquiry into such claims, emphasizing that human oversight, not AI's inherent deviousness, can be a sizable contributor.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The metrics that would reveal the human cost have not been built yet.
    Dan Schawbel, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The board of Scripps rejected Sinclair’s hostile bid in December.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The documentary depicts a scenario involving a large hostile surface vessel formation approaching southeast of China.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In March, Nebraska’s Morrill Fire tore through 642,000 acres to become the largest in state history, killing one person and razing vast stretches of cattle country.
    Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The Saudis, according to the person briefed on the substance of the call but not authorized to comment publicly, are concerned that Tehran could respond with attacks on the energy infrastructure of the kingdom and other Gulf countries.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Bush and Bell both honed their leadership skills in Ferguson amid the racial unrest that followed the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer in 2014.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The certification — and several more Boeing is targeting this year — are crucial in getting the company back to profitability, after two fatal crashes months apart in 2018 helped European rival Airbus pull ahead in global plane deliveries.
    semafor.com, semafor.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Despite continued life-saving efforts by first responders, the girl was pronounced dead before she could be airlifted to a hospital.
    Richard Ramos, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Investigators declared the driver of the white SUV, a 53-year-old man, dead at the scene, Moncayo said.
    Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • That left the debtor having to prove the negative that the debtor really didn't have any way to re-establish control over trust assets, and such was (and still is) a very tough sell.
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • There is some debate in our field about, again, these higher-level components of pain, the emotional negative valence that’s associated with pain.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mortal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mortal. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on mortal

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster