nonlethal
adjective
non·le·thal
ˌnän-ˈlē-thəl 
: not lethal : not capable of causing death
a nonlethal gas
nonlethal weapons
a nonlethal dose of venom
Examples of nonlethal in a Sentence
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Staff used chemical agents and nonlethal weapons to intervene and attempted to perform lifesaving measures, but Rodriguez was pronounced dead at an outside medical facility, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
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Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Among the bill’s requirements would be an assessment of the current black bear population, strategies for minimizing human-bear conflicts, public education initiatives, nonlethal deterrence methods, evaluation of population control measures and waste management practices to reduce attractants.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025
Family members and neighbors questioned why police did not do more to de-escalate the situation or use nonlethal weapons.
—John Bacon, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Study up on the effects of the nonlethal weapons that could be used against you.
—Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonlethal
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Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Among the bill’s requirements would be an assessment of the current black bear population, strategies for minimizing human-bear conflicts, public education initiatives, nonlethal deterrence methods, evaluation of population control measures and waste management practices to reduce attractants.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025
Family members and neighbors questioned why police did not do more to de-escalate the situation or use nonlethal weapons.
—John Bacon, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Study up on the effects of the nonlethal weapons that could be used against you.
—Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonlethal
Cite this Entry
“Nonlethal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonlethal. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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