SUBLETHAL Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

sublethal

adjective

Definition of sublethal

as in toxic

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 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 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

Gill and Krukoff separately pushed their way into Indigenous communities, bribing or cajoling elders to forage vines and process toxic plant compounds known as curare.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Concern over plastic in the kitchen and its affects on the endocrine system has been growing for the past few years, Nathan said, referencing a viral article that linked black plastics in the kitchen to alarming levels of toxic flame retardants.

— Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of toxic

Adjective

Sepsis can lead to a number of different complications, and Woodhouse developed infective endocarditis — an infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves.

— Adam England, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2026
The team confirmed that those eggs developed into infective third-stage larvae.

— Jay Kakade August 05, Refractor, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of infective

Adjective

But seemingly out of nowhere, something incited the emergence of a more virulent Sporothrix species spread by cats and not plants.

— Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 27 Oct. 2026
The incubation period for pneumonic plague — the disease's most virulent form — can be as short as 24 hours, according to the WHO.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of virulent

Adjective

But major questions remained about how much space exists inside the Earth to store the CO2, how effectively it could be monitored and whether the poisonous, concentrated gas would reliably stay underground.

— Katie Worth, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2026
Mirroring the poisonous arena featured in the movie, Grace paired her vibrant, beaded Almée Couture gown with a high ponytail, leaving her blond bangs out to frame her face.

— Arushi Jacob, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of poisonous

Adjective

Symptoms can appear between two and 21 days after exposure, and people are generally not infectious before symptoms begin.

— Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2026
Viral particles can spread through the air and remain infectious for up to two hours, even after an infected person leaves the area.

— Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of infectious

Adjective

Since wood smoke didn’t cause these deleterious effects, the researchers believe that metals may be involved in the most damaging forms of pollution to the brain.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 28 Oct. 2026
The backlash against this perfectly reasonable post demonstrates the deleterious effect of mass immigration on our democratic system.

— Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of deleterious

Adjective

Meanwhile, Meta has faced lawsuits alleging that its platforms contribute to harmful experiences for children and teenagers.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Nov. 2026
Educators aren’t prepared to supervise AI use, while students may struggle to tell which tools are safe or harmful, the release said.

— Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of harmful

Adjective

Gleb’s company is about to suffer the effects of the conflict in a particularly pernicious way.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2026
Its people set aside centuries of racial violence to dismantle the most pernicious system of racial segregation in the modern world.

— Kurt Shillinger, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of pernicious

Browse Nearby Words

sublet

sublethal

sublets

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sublethal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sublethal. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of sublethal

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

lissome

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes