sublethal

adjective

sub·​le·​thal ˌsəb-ˈlē-thəl 

: less than but usually only slightly less than lethal

a sublethal dose

sublethally

ˌsəb-ˈlē-thə-lē 

adverb

Examples of sublethal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Documenting often-invisible, sublethal effects in wild animals that are definitively linked to plastic itself has remained elusive. —Matthew Savoca, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2023

But subtler, sublethal effects, like those described above for DDT, could be much farther-reaching. —Matthew Savoca, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2023

The third is that this dosage was sublethal, just to send a message. —Ellen Barry and Ceylan Yeginsu, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2018

There’s a growing body of evidence, too, that neonicotinoids may have sublethal effects, says Dennis vanEngelsdorp, a bee researcher at the University of Maryland who was not involved in the new study. —Lindsey Konkel, National Geographic, 26 July 2016

There’s a growing body of evidence, too, that neonicotinoids may have sublethal effects, says Dennis vanEngelsdorp, a bee researcher at the University of Maryland who was not involved in the new study. —National Geographic, 26 July 2016

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

sublethal

adjective

sub·​le·​thal ˌsəb-ˈlē-thəl, ˌsəb- 

: less than but usually only slightly less than lethal

a sublethal dose

sublethally

-thə-lē 

adverb