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.
Officers located the pedestrian, a 54-year-old Stamford man, who was suffering from possible life-threatening injuries, Booth said. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 6 Dec. 2024 Hermosillo was taken to a hospital and treated for a gunshot wound that was not life-threatening, police said. Olivia Rose, The Arizona Republic, 6 Dec. 2024 Even minor snow accumulations combined with gusty winds and plummeting temperatures can create life-threatening conditions. Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024 Perhaps there will be less use, for instance, of the accelerated approval mechanism that allows for earlier marketing authorization of certain drugs that treat serious or life-threatening conditions, based on a surrogate endpoint if it is thought to predict clinical benefit. Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 4 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 15 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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