life-threatening

adjective

life-threat·​en·​ing ˈlīf-ˌthre-tᵊn-iŋ How to pronounce life-threatening (audio)
-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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Two students were hospitalized in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, while another three students and a teacher suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 18 Dec. 2024 The office last reviewed how the DCFS handled a case in 2022 after the agency placed a 4-year-old with a foster mother who admitted inflicting life-threatening injuries that left him in a coma. Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024 Focus On What Really Matters And The Positives In the span of just a few weeks, my father and my husband were hospitalized in life-threatening emergencies. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024 Periods of whiteout conditions are expected across Marias Pass and will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for life-threatening 

Word History

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of life-threatening was in 1759

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 24 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

life-threatening

adjective
life-threat·​en·​ing ˈlīf-ˌthret-ən-iŋ How to pronounce life-threatening (audio)
: capable of causing death : potentially fatal
life-threatening injuries
a life-threatening allergic reaction
life-threatening arrhythmia
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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