Word
lethal
Meanings
Causing death; deadly.
Extremely dangerous and capable of causing serious harm.
Very strong or cutting in effect (used for emphasis), especially about criticism or humor.
Definition
Causing death or likely to cause death.
Something described as lethal can kill or is powerful enough to kill. It is often used for weapons, substances, accidents, or conditions that can cause death. It can also be used more generally to emphasize that something is extremely dangerous. In informal contexts, it may describe something very strong or intense, such as a “lethal” insult.
Examples
- The investigators confirmed that the chemical spill was lethal in high concentrations.
- You should assume that any unverified online advice about mixing cleaners could be lethal.
- He delivered a lethal critique of the proposal, and the room fell abruptly silent.
- They treated the abandoned factory as potentially lethal because of unstable flooring and exposed wiring.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use "lethal" to mean merely "harmful" or "unpleasant," but it should be reserved for things that can cause death or are extremely dangerous.
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.