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lethal

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The definition of lethal is something very harmful or destructive, especially something that could cause death.

(adjective)

A gun shot wound is an example of something that could be described as a lethal wound.

See lethal in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

causing or capable of causing death; fatal or deadly

Origin: L letalis, lethalis < letum, death: see let

Related Forms:

lethality noun
lethally adverb

See lethal in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Capable of causing death.
Of, relating to, or causing death. See Synonyms at fatal.
Extremely harmful; devastating: accusations lethal to the candidate's image.

Origin:

Origin: Late Latin lēthālis

Origin: , alteration (probably influenced by Lēthē, Lethe)

Origin: of Latin lētālis

Origin: , from lētum, death

Related Forms:

le·thalˈi·ty (lē-thălˈĭ-tē) noun

leˈthal·ly adverb

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