nonlethal

adjective

non·​le·​thal ˌnän-ˈlē-thəl How to pronounce nonlethal (audio)
: 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
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Family members and neighbors questioned why police did not do more to de-escalate the situation or use nonlethal weapons. John Bacon, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025 Study up on the effects of the nonlethal weapons that could be used against you. Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 9 Apr. 2025 French, Polish, and other European military advisers could also provide lethal and nonlethal training within Ukraine to further professionalize the country’s military. Alex Crowther, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2024 Among the bill’s requirements would be an assessment of the current black bear population, strategies for minimizing human-bear conflicts, public education initiatives, nonlethal deterrence methods, evaluation of population control measures and waste management practices to reduce attractants. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Nonlethal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonlethal. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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