Definitions

life-or-death

[lahyf-er-deth] / ˈlaɪf ərˈdɛθ /

Part of Speech:

All (3) Adjective (2) Noun (1)

Jump To:

life-and-death adj.
vital adj.
necessity n.

ADJECTIVE

life-and-death

Synonyms

WEAK

all-important consequential critical crucial determining earth-shaking earth-shattering essential imperative important indispensable meaningful of vital importance paramount pivotal serious significant urgent vital vitally important

ADJECTIVE

vital

Synonyms

STRONGEST

basic critical crucial decisive fundamental imperative important indispensable integral key meaningful necessary needed significant urgent

WEAK

bottom-line cardinal coal-and-ice constitutive heavy meat-and-potatoes must-have nitty-gritty prerequisite required requisite underlined

Antonyms

STRONGEST

additional extra inessential insignificant meaningless minor needless nonessential optional secondary trivial uncritical unimportant unnecessary useless voluntary worthless

WEAK

dead dull insignficant sluggish

NOUN

necessity

Synonyms

STRONGEST

essential fundamental obligation precondition prerequisite requirement urgency

STRONG

call cause claim compulsion demand desideratum duress essence exaction exigency godsend imperative indispensability inevitability inexorableness must must-have necessary pinch privation requisite stress vitals want

WEAK

life or death needfulness no alternative no choice sine qua non undeniability vital part

Antonyms

STRONGEST

auxiliary extra trivia

WEAK

desire

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

life-or-death

With people making potentially life-or-death decisions based on his posts, Esko said he felt the weight of responsibility.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

That was apparently enough to resolve a life-or-death operational question for armed federal officers across the country.

From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026

It does not present life-or-death challenges like a career in the army, but military training like this will ensure these coaches are prepared for anything in the dugout.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

But it makes sense in the context of the life-or-death desire for connection Mr. Lavers is trying to express.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

Heading to a neighboring camper or the campground offices to ask for a phone to use seems a little extreme—this isn’t exactly life-or-death.

From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone

life-or-death

Example Sentences

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Related Words