What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Deleterious vs Lethal - What's the difference?

deleterious | lethal |

As adjectives the difference between deleterious and lethal

is that deleterious is harmful often in a subtle or unexpected way (as for example deleterious effects, deleterious to health) while lethal is deadly; mortal; fatal.

As a noun lethal is

one of the higher alcohols of the paraffine series obtained from spermaceti as a white crystalline solid.

deleterious

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • harmful often in a subtle or unexpected way (as for example deleterious'' effects, ''deleterious to health).
  • * 1850 , :
  • Or might it suffice him, that every wholesome growth should be converted into something deleterious and malignant at his touch?

    Synonyms

    * (harmful) destructive, harmful, hurtful, injurious, noxious, pernicious; see also

    Derived terms

    * deleteriously

    lethal

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Deadly; mortal; fatal.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Old soldiers? , passage=Whether modern, industrial man is less or more warlike than his hunter-gatherer ancestors is impossible to determine. The machine gun is so much more lethal than the bow and arrow that comparisons are meaningless.}}

    Etymology 2

    Abbreviation of “lauric acid ethereal salt”, so called because it occurs in the ethereal salt of lauric acid.

    Noun

    (-)
  • (chemistry) One of the higher alcohols of the paraffine series obtained from spermaceti as a white crystalline solid.