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
Three others were being treated for injures that weren't considered life-threatening, police said.
—
Cory Peeler, ABC News, 5 May 2024
One person was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, Medic reported on X, the former Twitter.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 4 May 2024
But some can cause mild to life-threatening gastrointestinal illnesses if consumed, the CDC says.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024
Aune says that the law has gone unexamined for too long and that policymakers need to give women the right to leave a dangerous or even life-threatening situation.
—Katia Riddle, NPR, 3 May 2024
The other two victims were taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.
—Andrea Klick, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2024
But there’s another vulnerable group who benefit from daily low-dose aspirin: pregnant women at risk of developing pre-eclampsia, life-threatening high blood pressure.
—Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times, 1 May 2024
As a result, some women seeking abortions have been turned away from hospitals in life-threatening situations.
—Nik Popli, TIME, 23 Apr. 2024
The sheriff said that nine people, three of them children, were driven by ambulances and airlifted by two medical helicopters to area hospitals with life-threatening injuries.
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024
Cory Peeler, ABC News, 5 May 2024
One person was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, Medic reported on X, the former Twitter.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 4 May 2024
But some can cause mild to life-threatening gastrointestinal illnesses if consumed, the CDC says.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024
Aune says that the law has gone unexamined for too long and that policymakers need to give women the right to leave a dangerous or even life-threatening situation.
—Katia Riddle, NPR, 3 May 2024
The other two victims were taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.
—Andrea Klick, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2024
But there’s another vulnerable group who benefit from daily low-dose aspirin: pregnant women at risk of developing pre-eclampsia, life-threatening high blood pressure.
—Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times, 1 May 2024
As a result, some women seeking abortions have been turned away from hospitals in life-threatening situations.
—Nik Popli, TIME, 23 Apr. 2024
The sheriff said that nine people, three of them children, were driven by ambulances and airlifted by two medical helicopters to area hospitals with life-threatening injuries.
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'life-threatening.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 9 May. 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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