life-threatening
adjective
life-threat·en·ing
ˈlīf-ˌthre-tᵊn-iŋ 
-ˌthret-niŋ
: capable of causing death : potentially fatal
a life-threatening disease/condition
The injuries are serious but not life-threatening.
Examples of life-threatening in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Though all hurricanes produce life-threatening winds, hurricanes rated Category 3 and higher are known as major hurricanes.
—
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024
Thousands of Florida residents have already been forced to evacuate and nearly the entire state is under alerts as the storm threatens to unleash flooding rainfall, damaging winds and life-threatening storm surge.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 25 Sep. 2024
Swells on the west coast of Florida and the northeastern Gulf Coast will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
—Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, 24 Sep. 2024
The passenger was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
—Skylar Heisey, The Arizona Republic, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for life-threatening 
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024
Thousands of Florida residents have already been forced to evacuate and nearly the entire state is under alerts as the storm threatens to unleash flooding rainfall, damaging winds and life-threatening storm surge.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 25 Sep. 2024
Swells on the west coast of Florida and the northeastern Gulf Coast will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
—Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, 24 Sep. 2024
The passenger was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
—Skylar Heisey, The Arizona Republic, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for life-threatening
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Dictionary Entries Near life-threatening
Cite this Entry
“Life-threatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life-threatening. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
life-threatening
adjective
life-threat·en·ing
ˈlīf-ˌthret-ən-iŋ
: capable of causing death : potentially fatal
life-threatening injuries
a life-threatening allergic reaction
life-threatening arrhythmia
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