Definition

Adjective: - Not capable of causing death: Describes a weapon, force, or method that is designed or used to incapacitate or subdue without causing fatal injury.

Usage

The adjective "nonlethal" is used to modify nouns, particularly in contexts involving law enforcement, military tactics, or self-defense, to specify that the subject is not intended to kill. - It is typically placed before the noun it describes (e.g., nonlethal weapon). - It can also be used predicatively after a linking verb like "is" or "are" (e.g., The force was nonlethal).

Examples

• Before a noun:
  • Police officers often carry nonlethal weapons like tasers or pepper spray.
  • The military used nonlethal methods to disperse the crowd.
• Predicative use:
  • The intent of the new protocol is to be nonlethal.
  • While painful, the blast from the device is considered nonlethal.

Advanced Usage

• "Nonlethal force": A specific term in legal and tactical contexts referring to physical coercion that is not intended to cause death.
  • The court examined whether the officer's use of nonlethal force was justified.
• "Less-than-lethal" or "less lethal": These are sometimes used as synonyms, though they can imply a recognition that such weapons still carry a risk of causing death in certain circumstances.
  • The agency is reviewing its less-lethal arsenal.

Variants and Related Words

• Non-lethal (adjective): A common hyphenated variant spelling of "nonlethal." The meaning is identical.
  • They developed a non-lethal deterrent.

Synonyms

• Nonfatal: Not causing death. (Often used to describe injuries or outcomes.)
  • The victim sustained nonfatal injuries.
• Sublethal: Not sufficient to cause death. (Common in biological/toxin contexts.)
  • A sublethal dose of the chemical.

Antonyms

• Lethal: Sufficient to cause death.
  • The suspect was armed with a lethal weapon.
• Fatal: Causing death.
  • The crash resulted in fatal injuries.

Adjective

1. not capable of causing death