Lethal — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈlē-thəl/ le·thal

Meaning & Definition of Lethal

Lethal (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or causing death
  2. capable of causing death
  3. gravely damaging or destructive, devastating

Lethal (noun)

  1. an abnormality of genetic origin causing the death of the organism possessing it
  2. lethal gene

Lethal (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. likely to cause or capable of causing death

    "we were lucky that the snake's venom wasn't lethal, and our friend turned out to be all right"

    similar: baleful, deadly, deathly, fatal, fell, killer, mortal, murderous, pestilent, terminal, vital
    related: baneful, deleterious, destructive, harmful, injurious, noxious, pernicious, truculent, infectious, infective, pestilential, poisonous, sublethal, toxic, virulent, dangerous, grave, grievous, hazardous, jeopardizing, menacing, parlous, perilous, risky, serious, threatening, ugly, unhealthy, unsound, bloody, internecine, sanguinary, sanguine
    opposite: healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal, wholesome
    near: beneficial, restorative, salubrious, salutary, alleviative, corrective, curative, remedial, tonic, advantageous, useful, nonpoisonous, nontoxic, safe

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Lethal

The most common words with a similar meaning to Lethal:

baleful, deadly, deathly, fatal, fell, killer, mortal, murderous, pestilent, terminal, vital

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Lethal

Words with the opposite meaning of Lethal:

healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal, wholesome

Related Words for Lethal

baneful, deleterious, destructive, harmful, injurious, noxious, pernicious, truculent, infectious, infective, pestilential, poisonous, sublethal, toxic, virulent, dangerous, grave, grievous, hazardous, jeopardizing, menacing, parlous, perilous, risky, serious, threatening, ugly, unhealthy, unsound, bloody

Near Antonyms of Lethal

beneficial, restorative, salubrious, salutary, alleviative, corrective, curative, remedial, tonic, advantageous, useful, nonpoisonous, nontoxic, safe

Word Forms of Lethal

Derived words: lethality (noun), lethally (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Lethal

borrowed from Latin lētālis, lēthālis, from lētum, lēthum "death, especially when brought about violently" (of uncertain origin) + -ālis -al:1

First known use: circa 1604

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Lethal

Words & Phrases Containing Lethal

lethal gene

Frequently Asked Questions about Lethal

What does "Lethal" mean?

"Lethal" means of, relating to, or causing death. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: of, relating to, or causing death.

What is another word for "Lethal"?

Other words for "Lethal" include baleful, deadly, deathly, fatal, fell, killer, mortal and murderous. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Lethal" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Lethal"?

There are 44 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Lethal". Common alternatives include baleful, deadly, deathly, fatal, fell, killer, mortal, murderous, pestilent and terminal.

What is the opposite of "Lethal"?

Antonyms of "Lethal" include healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal and wholesome. Near antonyms include beneficial, restorative, salubrious and salutary.

How do you use "Lethal" in a sentence?

Examples of "Lethal" in a sentence: "we were lucky that the snake's venom wasn't lethal, and our friend turned out to be all right".

Is "Lethal" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Lethal" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Lethal" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Lethal" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Lethal"?

"Lethal" is pronounced /ˈlē-thəl/ and divided into syllables as le·thal.