non-lethal — not causing or intended to cause death; designed to subdue or incapacitate without killing
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: not causing or intended to cause death; designed to subdue or incapacitate without killing
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌnɑːn ˈliːθəl/
Example Sentences
- The superhero's non-lethal approach made him popular with parents but frustrated comic book villains who kept ending up in jail instead of the morgue.
- The company developed non-lethal pest control methods that were environmentally friendly.
- My cooking is technically non-lethal, though some dinner guests might argue it's a close call.
non-lethal
ADJECTIVE[/ˌnɑːn ˈliːθəl/]
not causing or intended to cause death; designed to subdue or incapacitate without killing
Police use non-lethal rubber bullets to safely stop the fleeing suspect.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word combines the Latin prefix 'non-' (meaning 'not') with 'lethal', which derives from Latin 'lethalis'. The Latin term 'lethalis' is connected to Greek mythology's River Lethe, the river of forgetfulness, and originally referred to death or oblivion.
Breakdown
non- (not) + lethal (deadly, from Latin lethalis, relating to death or the mythological River Lethe).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The superhero's non-lethal approach made him popular with parents but frustrated comic book villains who kept ending up in jail instead of the morgue.”
“The company developed non-lethal pest control methods that were environmentally friendly.”
“My cooking is technically non-lethal, though some dinner guests might argue it's a close call.”
“Security guards are trained to use non-lethal restraint techniques first.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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