as in deadly
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
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Recent Examples of lethal
Smith, 75, was executed by lethal injection May 22 at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville and pronounced dead at 11:47 a.m.
—
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Oscar Franklin Smith is set to be executed by lethal injection for the 1989 murder of his estranged wife, 35-year-old Judith Robirds Smith, and her sons.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 22 May 2025
The last electrocution was in 1990, the method has been lethal injection since that time.
—Ray Hanley, Arkansas Online, 21 May 2025
Listen to this article MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — An Indiana man convicted in the 2000 killing of a police officer is set to receive a lethal injection early Tuesday in the state’s second execution in 15 years.
—Sophia Tareen, Chicago Tribune, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lethal
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Oscar Franklin Smith is set to be executed by lethal injection for the 1989 murder of his estranged wife, 35-year-old Judith Robirds Smith, and her sons.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 22 May 2025
The last electrocution was in 1990, the method has been lethal injection since that time.
—Ray Hanley, Arkansas Online, 21 May 2025
Listen to this article MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — An Indiana man convicted in the 2000 killing of a police officer is set to receive a lethal injection early Tuesday in the state’s second execution in 15 years.
—Sophia Tareen, Chicago Tribune, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lethal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lethal
Adjective
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While people who have had measles gain immunity, there can be risks and deadly consequences.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2025
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The Los Angeles Police Department charged him with assault with a deadly weapon the next day after the rapper allegedly entered the wrong home while looking for his girlfriend and swung a hatchet at two people.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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Selling bitcoin volatility into a bull market could prove fatal.—
Alexander S. Blume,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Here's what to know about the rare, but often fatal, disease.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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The last time fans saw her as Britt, she was attacked by a serial killer and died from his poisonous hook.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
6 June 2025
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On July 29, 2023, Erin Patterson, 50, allegedly served her ex-husband’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, beef wellington laced with poisonous mushrooms, which resulted in their deaths.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lethal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lethal. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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