: not lethal : not capable of causing death
a nonlethal gas
nonlethal weapons
a nonlethal dose of venom

Examples of nonlethal 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.
As part of this, Europe must provide the overwhelming share of future lethal and nonlethal aid to Ukraine. Not unreasonable, although, in fact, Europe has provided almost as much military aid to Ukraine as has the United States, and more humanitarian aid. Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2025 Some American bishops declared that execution was wrong if nonlethal alternatives—such as life without parole—were available. Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025 There appeared to be less mass murder than in 2023 and less nonlethal violence in the form of torture, beatings and related force. Collin J. Meisel, The Conversation, 13 Jan. 2025 Researchers contrasted lion behavior in California and Nevada, the latter of which allows both nonlethal hound pursuit and a legal, limited harvest season. Malcolm Brooks Malcolm Hillgartner Krish Seenivasan Zak Mouton, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nonlethal 

Word History

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonlethal was in 1625

Dictionary Entries Near nonlethal

Cite this Entry

“Nonlethal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonlethal. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

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