deadly applies to an established or very likely cause of death.
a deadly disease
mortal implies that death has occurred or is inevitable.
a mortal wound
fatal stresses the inevitability of what has in fact resulted in death or destruction.
fatal consequences
lethal applies to something that is bound to cause death or exists for the destruction of life.
lethal gas
Example Sentences
Adjective a potentially lethal dose of a drug He was sentenced to death by lethal injection.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Could nitrogen hypoxia be used in place of lethal injection for Alabama’s next execution? Ike Morgan | Imorgan@al.com, al, 13 Sep. 2022 State lawmakers voted in spring 2021 to authorize death by firing squad and electrocution when lethal injection is not an option. Derek Hawkins, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 South Carolina, which conducted its last execution in 2011, is one of several states that have been unable to procure the drugs necessary for lethal injection, which many states have seen as the most humane form of execution. Daniel Victor, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2022 South Carolina, which conducted its last execution in 2011, is one of several states that have been unable to procure the drugs necessary for lethal injection, which many states have seen as the most humane form of execution. Daniel Victor, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 Just three prisoners in South Carolina have chosen the electric chair since lethal injection was made available in 1995. Kathryn Casteel, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2022 The last one took place in 2019, when a lethal injection was administered to Gary Ray Bowles, known as the I-95 killer for his 1994 murders of six gay men in North Florida. David Fleshler, Sun Sentinel, 3 Sep. 2022 Alabama does not allow witnesses from news outlets to watch the preparations for a lethal injection. Kim Chandler, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2022 He was executed by lethal injection on July 28, 2022, near Atmore, Alabama.CBS News, 30 Aug. 2022
Noun
Almost 8 of 10 lethal overdose victims had no contact with the agency before their deaths, the report found.Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2020 In response to Russian operations and Chinese advances, the USAF is battling for air superiority in the Arctic with its most valuable—and lethal—assets in Alaska, including the F-22A Raptor and F-35A Joint Strike Fighter. Jeff Bolton, Popular Mechanics, 19 July 2020 See More