life-threatening
adjective
life-threat·en·ing
ˈlīf-ˌthre-tᵊn-iŋ 
-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
No one was seriously injured, but two people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to a city spokesperson.
—
Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
She was airlifted to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Hospital staff reported that a 19-year-old woman was seeking treatment for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, Boisvert said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
The woman’s injuries are non-life-threatening, according to Click2Houston.
—Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for life-threatening
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Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
She was airlifted to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Hospital staff reported that a 19-year-old woman was seeking treatment for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, Boisvert said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
The woman’s injuries are non-life-threatening, according to Click2Houston.
—Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for life-threatening
Cite this Entry
“Life-threatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life-threatening. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
life-threatening
adjective
life-threat·en·ing
ˈlīf-ˌthret-ən-iŋ
: capable of causing death : potentially fatal
life-threatening injuries
a life-threatening allergic reaction
life-threatening arrhythmia
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