Word
lethal
US/ˈɫiθəɫ/
UK/lˈiːθəl/
Definitions
01deadly
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. able to cause death.
adj. capable of causing death; fatal or mortal in effect.
日本語:致死※
“The snake's venom is lethal to small animals and humans.”
“The laboratory confirmed that the chemical spill contained a lethal concentration of toxins, necessitating an immediate evacuation of the surrounding area.”
02very effective or dangerous
C1 · Advanced Informal
adj. extremely successful or powerful, often in a way that defeats an opponent.
adj. highly effective or devastating in a figurative sense, particularly regarding skill or performance.
“The striker has a lethal shot that most goalkeepers cannot stop.”
“Her lethal wit and sharp debating skills made her a formidable opponent in the courtroom.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03a deadly gene
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical
n. a version of a gene that causes an organism to die.
n. an allele that causes the death of the organism that carries it, often before birth or maturity.
“The researchers studied how a specific lethal gene was passed down in the fruit flies.”
“The presence of a homozygous lethal in the population resulted in a significant deviation from the expected Mendelian ratios among the surviving offspring.”
Synonyms
04a chemical compound
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical
n. a type of solid alcohol found in certain oils and waxes.
n. one of the higher alcohols of the paraffin series, typically obtained from spermaceti as a white crystalline solid.
“The chemist isolated the lethal from the wax sample for further testing.”
“The structural analysis of the lethal revealed a long-chain aliphatic alcohol consistent with derivatives of spermaceti.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “lethal” in context.
Verb
01. deliver a lethal blow
“The new competitor delivered a lethal blow to the company's market share.”
verb + adj + noun
02. prove lethal
“The icy conditions on the mountain pass proved lethal for several inexperienced climbers.”
verb + adj
Adjective
03. lethal to humans
“The venom of this particular spider is rarely lethal to humans, though it causes severe pain.”
adj + prep + noun
04. lethal weapon
“The suspect was apprehended while carrying a lethal weapon in his jacket pocket.”
adj + noun
05. potentially lethal
“Even common household cleaning products can be potentially lethal if mixed incorrectly.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. lethal combination of drugs
“The autopsy revealed that a lethal combination of drugs was the cause of death.”
adj + noun + prep + noun
07. lethal dose of radiation
“The workers were exposed to a lethal dose of radiation during the reactor breach.”
adj + noun + prep + noun
08. lethal injection
“The prisoner was executed by lethal injection early Tuesday morning.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said at a press conference, referring to the particularly lethal species of Ebola for which no approved vaccine currently exists.” “A June heat wave in Belgium and neighboring countries exposed a lethal lack of readiness.” Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin lētālis (“deadly, mortal, fatal”), improperly written lēthālis, from lētum (“death”), improperly written as lēthum, from a supposed connection with Ancient Greek λήθη (lḗthē, “oblivion, forgetfulness”).
Abbreviation of “lauric acid ethereal salt”, so called because it occurs in the ethereal salt of lauric acid.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/lethal
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0