lethal

adjective C1

Meaning

The term "lethal" refers to something that is capable of causing death or is fundamentally destructive, often used in contexts involving weapons, poisons, or conditions that pose a significant threat to life; it conveys an inherent quality of fatality or
💡 While "lethal" is often used in a straightforward sense to denote something deadly, it can also be applied metaphorically in various contexts, such as a "lethal combination" of factors that lead to disastrous outcomes, which may not directly involve physical harm.

Example Sentences

The chemical compound proved lethal to the test subjects in experiments .
The chemical spill released a lethal gas into the atmosphere .
The chemical substance proved to be lethal in high concentrations .
The company faced lethal competition from new market entrants this year .

Never forget "lethal"

Set a daily goal, reinforce with word cards and games, and track your progress in the Vocab5000 app — learn every C1 level word permanently with our science-based repetition system.

Vocab5000