a lethal illness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lethal illness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a disease or condition that is capable of causing death. Example: "The outbreak of the virus has raised concerns about a lethal illness spreading rapidly among the population."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Anorexia is a lethal illness.

The New York Times - Health

Dr. March and other experts argue that the cost of leaving depressed children and teenagers untreated is high: depression itself can be a lethal illness.

The New York Times - Science

The importance of enzymes is shown by the fact that a lethal illness can be caused by the malfunction of just one type of enzyme out of the thousands of types present in our bodies.

BioMed Research International

In this subset, the results of the four descriptive clinical studies showed that, in the context of specific programmes, a significant number of couples (between 37 and 87%) opted for PC and to continue with the pregnancy when the foetus has been diagnosed with a lethal illness.

BMC Pediatrics

In as much as one may be tempted to accept the acceptance rate of 79.8% as good, looking at the other side of the flip- a refusal rate of 20.2% is unacceptably high especially for a lethal illness among a group of person at increased risk for the disease.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Elder, a senior editor at The New York Times, handles a frightening subject — the impact of a potentially lethal illness on a family — gently enough that some parents might deem the book appropriate reading material for older children.

The New York Times - Books

It's become a sort of annual ritual for Americans to go wild over the possibility that a new, lethal illness might spread from Africa or Southeast Asia to their own backyard.

Vice

Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a potentially lethal illness that is universally prevalent in the tropics [ 1].

BMC Infectious Diseases

The Maryland ban exempts Histostat® (nitarsone), another Alpharma arsenical for use in poultry, which is the only FDA-approved treatment for histomoniasis, a potentially lethal illness.

Environmental Health Perspectives

One is the prevention hepatocyte apoptosis and stimulation of hepatocyte mitosis in DMN-induced liver fibrosis, resulting in the survival of rats with an otherwise lethal illness.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

As indicated by their relatives, 89.9% (n = 319) of persons using home care suffered from a proceeding, incurable, lethal illness.

BMC Palliative Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a lethal illness", ensure that the context clearly indicates the potential for the illness to cause death. Be specific about the illness if possible, rather than using the general term.

Common error

Avoid using "a lethal illness" in contexts where the potential for death is minimal or exaggerated. Overusing this phrase can diminish its impact and create unnecessary alarm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lethal illness" functions as a noun phrase, where "lethal" modifies "illness". Ludwig AI confirms this usage through its examples of the phrase used to describe diseases capable of causing death.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a lethal illness" is a noun phrase used to describe a disease or condition capable of causing death. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase. While grammatically sound, its frequency is rare, primarily appearing in scientific and news contexts. Related phrases include "a fatal disease" and "a life-threatening condition". When writing, it's best to use this phrase in contexts where the potential for death is clear and to avoid overuse, which can diminish its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fatal disease

Replaces "illness" with "disease" and "lethal" with "fatal", both synonyms emphasizing the deadly nature.

a deadly sickness

Substitutes "illness" with "sickness" and "lethal" with "deadly", maintaining the core meaning with slightly different vocabulary.

a life-threatening condition

Replaces "lethal illness" with a more descriptive phrase indicating the potential for death.

a terminal disease

Emphasizes the incurable and ultimately fatal aspect of the illness.

a fatal ailment

Uses "ailment" as a synonym for "illness" and "fatal" instead of "lethal".

a deadly affliction

Replaces "illness" with "affliction" and "lethal" with "deadly", conveying a sense of suffering.

a life-ending disease

Highlights the ultimate consequence of the illness.

a killer disease

Uses a more informal, yet impactful term to describe the lethal nature of the illness.

a devastating illness

Focuses on the destructive impact of the illness, implying its lethal potential.

a critical health condition

Highlights the seriousness and potential danger of the health problem.

FAQs

How can I use "a lethal illness" in a sentence?

You can use "a lethal illness" to describe a disease or condition that is capable of causing death. For example: "The rapid spread of Ebola is due to it being "a lethal illness"."

What's a more formal way to say "a lethal illness"?

A more formal way to express "a lethal illness" could be "a fatal disease" or "a life-threatening condition", depending on the specific context and the level of formality required.

What are some synonyms for "a lethal illness"?

Synonyms for "a lethal illness" include "a deadly sickness", "a terminal disease", and "a fatal ailment". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a lethal illness" different from "a serious illness"?

Yes, ""a lethal illness"" specifically implies that the illness can cause death, while "a serious illness" indicates that the illness is severe and requires significant medical attention, but may not necessarily be fatal.