MORTAL Synonyms: 292 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'mortal' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mortal are deadly , fatal , and lethal . While all these words mean "causing or capable of causing death," mortal implies that death has occurred or is inevitable. // a mortal wound

Q: When might 'deadly' be a better fit than 'mortal'?

While in some cases nearly identical to mortal , deadly applies to an established or very likely cause of death. // a deadly disease

Q: When is 'fatal' a more appropriate choice than 'mortal'?

The words fatal and mortal can be used in similar contexts, but fatal stresses the inevitability of what has in fact resulted in death or destruction. // fatal consequences

Q: Where would 'lethal' be a reasonable alternative to 'mortal'?

In some situations, the words lethal and mortal are roughly equivalent. However, lethal applies to something that is bound to cause death or exists for the destruction of life. // lethal gas

mortal 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmȯr-tᵊl

Definition of mortal

as in lethal

likely to cause or capable of causing death a mortal wound

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deadly

of, relating to, or suggestive of death a wounded soldier writhing in mortal agony

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in human

relating to or characteristic of human beings just an ordinary guy with all the usual mortal limitations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hostile

marked by opposition or ill will have always had a mortal aversion to narcissistic people

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mortal

2 of 2

noun

as in person

a member of the human race just an ordinary mortal living an ordinary life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective mortal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mortal are deadly, fatal, and lethal. While all these words mean "causing or capable of causing death," mortal implies that death has occurred or is inevitable.

a mortal wound

When might deadly be a better fit than mortal?

While in some cases nearly identical to mortal, deadly applies to an established or very likely cause of death.

a deadly disease

When is fatal a more appropriate choice than mortal?

The words fatal and mortal can be used in similar contexts, but fatal stresses the inevitability of what has in fact resulted in death or destruction.

fatal consequences

Where would lethal be a reasonable alternative to mortal?

In some situations, the words lethal and mortal are roughly equivalent. However, lethal applies to something that is bound to cause death or exists for the destruction of life.

lethal gas

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of mortal

Adjective

Jesse is married to Phyllis (Rose Abdoo), a mortal woman who doesn’t know that her never-aging husband is a vampire. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026 Syracuse plunged what sure felt like the mortal dagger early in the third quarter. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026

Noun

Unlike other Olympians, who were often violent and wrathful, the Graces showed kindness and care to their fellow gods and mortals alike—bestowers of grace in every context. — Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026 Atlanta — Professional athletes are often held up as something above and beyond the mere mortals who pay hefty ticket prices to be in the stands. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mortal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mortal

Adjective

Garza was shot twice with less-lethal bean bag rounds but did not surrender.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Police said officers used a less-lethal weapon to subdue Sims and take him into custody.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of lethal

Adjective

Police charged 52-year-old Mooresville resident Rod Moskowitz with assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, court records show.

— Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
Memories are fresh of the nationwide protests sparked by economic pressures that led to a deadly crackdown weeks before the war.

— Amir-Hussein Radjy, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of deadly

Adjective

The plague bacterium appears to have emerged as a human pathogen more than 5,700 years ago, evolving from a soil bacterium called Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, says Hendrick Poinar, a biologist at McMaster University, who works with ancient DNA.

— Faye Flam, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026
Using an agent to book a human doctor through a medical portal could be much riskier.

— Marty Swant, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of human

Adjective

About 70% of the members of Brazil’s lower house and 80% of the Senate are considered to be hostile to environmental and climate agendas, according to the observatory.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
In a turnabout from Orbán’s hostile approach to Kyiv, Magyar’s government has expressed solidarity with Ukraine and designated Russia a national security threat.

— Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of hostile

Adjective

Speed cameras have been shown to reduce speeding by 31% to 82% and fatal crashes by 53% to 71%, according to the Department of Transportation.

— Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Kumar faces two counts of first-degree manslaughter and three counts of recklessly endangering another person in Deschutes County stemming from the fatal wreck.

— Eric Mack , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of fatal

Adjective

Police said Sunday that a 65-year-old man was found dead on a sidewalk near an entrance to Disneyland in Anaheim.

— Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
The vehicle arrived at a hospital, where Kohen was pronounced dead, and another individual was critically injured, according to authorities.

— Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of dead

Adjective

As for gas, it has usually been treated as a waste product to be burned off; because there are so few pipelines to bring it to market, West Texas gas prices have even dipped negative this year.

— Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
The mood in the markets turned sharply negative today as traders sold off stock around the world.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of negative

Browse Nearby Words

morsels

mortal

mortalities

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Style

“Mortal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mortal. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of mortal

adjective

noun

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