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
Jesse is married to Phyllis (Rose Abdoo), a mortal woman who doesn’t know that her never-aging husband is a vampire. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026 Syracuse plunged what sure felt like the mortal dagger early in the third quarter. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026
Noun
Unlike other Olympians, who were often violent and wrathful, the Graces showed kindness and care to their fellow gods and mortals alike—bestowers of grace in every context. — Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026 Atlanta — Professional athletes are often held up as something above and beyond the mere mortals who pay hefty ticket prices to be in the stands. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mortal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mortal
Adjective
  • Just two days earlier, Florida executed James Robertson by lethal injection at the same prison.
    — Richard Nichols, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Prison staff gave Pike two doses of pentobarbital, the drug used for lethal injections.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Police charged 52-year-old Mooresville resident Rod Moskowitz with assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, court records show.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Memories are fresh of the nationwide protests sparked by economic pressures that led to a deadly crackdown weeks before the war.
    — Amir-Hussein Radjy, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Learning from human demonstrations offers another way to develop skills by using examples of how a task should be performed.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Even today human infants are helpless without at least one connection.
    — Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • About 70% of the members of Brazil’s lower house and 80% of the Senate are considered to be hostile to environmental and climate agendas, according to the observatory.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In a turnabout from Orbán’s hostile approach to Kyiv, Magyar’s government has expressed solidarity with Ukraine and designated Russia a national security threat.
    — Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a continuing criminal investigation.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • At current growth rates, output per person doubles in twenty years in the US and takes forty-three years in the EU.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Another e-bike rider died over the weekend in Huntington Beach, marking the second fatal incident involving an e-bike in the coastal city in months.
    — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Presley, Crawford’s son and Kaia’s older brother, died of a fatal overdose inside a rehab facility after years of struggling with addiction and his mental health.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Police said Sunday that a 65-year-old man was found dead on a sidewalk near an entrance to Disneyland in Anaheim.
    — Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The vehicle arrived at a hospital, where Kohen was pronounced dead, and another individual was critically injured, according to authorities.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • As for gas, it has usually been treated as a waste product to be burned off; because there are so few pipelines to bring it to market, West Texas gas prices have even dipped negative this year.
    — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The mood in the markets turned sharply negative today as traders sold off stock around the world.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mortal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mortal. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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