SUBLETHAL Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

sublethal

adjective

Definition of sublethal

as in toxic

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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 sublethal Documenting often-invisible, sublethal effects in wild animals that are definitively linked to plastic itself has remained elusive. — Matthew Savoca, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2023 But subtler, sublethal effects, like those described above for DDT, could be much farther-reaching. — Matthew Savoca, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2023 The third is that this dosage was sublethal, just to send a message. — Ellen Barry and Ceylan Yeginsu, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2018 There’s a growing body of evidence, too, that neonicotinoids may have sublethal effects, says Dennis vanEngelsdorp, a bee researcher at the University of Maryland who was not involved in the new study. — Lindsey Konkel, National Geographic, 26 July 2016

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sublethal

Adjective

Patterson had been accused of deliberately seeking out the world’s most toxic mushrooms, death caps, after potentially seeing their location posted on iNaturalist, a citizen science website.

— Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
The complaint cites a couple of other instances of IPI’s use of the word toxic to describe Davis Gates and the CTU.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of toxic

Adjective

The team confirmed that those eggs developed into infective third-stage larvae.

— Jay Kakade August 05, Refractor, 5 Aug. 2026
His provisional cause of death was given as multi-organ failure due to infective endocarditis, a rare infection of the inner lining or valves of the heart.

— Daniel Taylor, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025

Definition of infective

Adjective

The isotopes that make up radiopharmaceuticals are just as virulent as the beam radiation patients have begrudgingly tolerated for decades.

— Allison DeAngelis, STAT, 10 Aug. 2026
The feminist progress of the past half century has been met with a virulent backlash of misogyny.

— Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of virulent

Adjective

For this reason, these poisonous mushrooms are more commonly confused with other types of edible mushrooms like chicken of the woods and chanterelles (more on these in a minute).

— Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2026
Perhaps ducks had been used as bio-processors, feeding on toads and metabolizing their poisonous compounds so that humans could safely consume them.

— Kimon de Greef, Longreads, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of poisonous

Adjective

In interviews with positive cases, public health workers try to identify others who may have been exposed and come into contact with an infectious person.

— Sarah Volpenhein, jsonline.com, 14 Aug. 2026
The dancers brought an infectious energy to every corner of the stage through versatile choreography.

— Maya Santiago, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of infectious

Adjective

During this time, bogs, marshes, and other wetlands, historically seen as disease-ridden and deleterious to human health, were reevaluated by scientists and conservationists as valuable wildlife habitats.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
The effects of this are going to be really deleterious to this whole thing.

— Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 23 July 2026

Definition of deleterious

Adjective

Child development experts have noted teenagers are more susceptible to social comparison than adults, so products that reward popularity can be more harmful to their mental health.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Beneficial bacteria also provide colonization resistance, competing with harmful microbes for nutrients and attachment sites while producing substances that inhibit their growth.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of harmful

Adjective

But herein also lie some of the issues that de-normalizing alcohol consumption brings to light, including its overlap with other, equally pernicious public health crises.

— Tim Brinkhof, Time, 23 July 2026
Spector is clearly concerned with the pernicious consequences of technology, its ability to numb emotions and steer people into ideological cul-de-sacs.

— Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 July 2026

Definition of pernicious

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sublet

sublethal

sublets

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“Sublethal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sublethal. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of sublethal

adjective

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