Cool MateLethal
UK /["/ˈliːθl/"]/US /["/ˈliːθl/"]/
Definition
causing or able to cause death
In simple words: Something that can cause death.
Examples
- She had been given a lethal dose of poison.
- Any sharp pointed instrument is potentially a lethal weapon.
- The closure of the factory dealt a lethal blow to the town.
- The snake’s venom is rarely lethal to humans.
- All these knives are absolutely lethal.
- It was a potentially lethal mixture of medications.
- The pesticide is lethal to all insect life.
- He has been sentenced to death by lethal injection.
- You and that car—it's a lethal combination!
- A shift in shopping habits created a lethal cocktail of bankruptcies and store closures.
Usage notes
Use 'lethal' to describe something that can kill, like a weapon or poison. Avoid using it in casual conversations unless discussing serious topics.
Grammar pattern
standalone adjective
Memory hint
Think 'lethal' as in 'leave all alive', because it’s the opposite.
Collocations
- be
- prove
- absolutely
- highly
- potentially
- to
- be
- prove
- absolutely
- highly
- potentially
- to
Synonyms
- deadly
- mortal
- fatal
- dangerous
- life-threatening
Antonyms
- safe
- harmless
- non-lethal
Common mistakes
- Confused with 'lethal' vs 'fatal'.
- Using it to describe non-dangerous situations.
- Incorrectly spelling it as 'leathal'.