life-threateningˈlife-ˌthreatening adjective 
Examples
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Thesaurus- Anxiety about life-threatening diseases, dead-end jobs and diminishing funds.
- If the infection is unchecked, peritonitis may follow and gonorrhoea becomes a life-threatening emergency.
- Initially, therefore, it is necessary to concentrate on the primary substance or process of addiction because this may be life-threatening.
- Its role in alleviating the pain and distress of non life-threatening illness is ignored.
- Slipping and injuring yourself in the bath is not only painful but life-threatening.
- The most critical is a life-threatening weakness in the aorta -- the major blood vessel from the heart.
- Whether they are driving too fast or drinking and driving or using life-threatening drugs, teenagers frequently engage in risk-taking behavior.
THESAURUSvery bad► serious
Collocations very bad – used about problems, accidents, illnesses, or crimes: · Violent crime is a serious problem in and around the capital.· The boy was taken to hospital with serious head injuries.· Fortunately, the damage to the car was not serious.
► severe very serious – used about problems, injuries, and illnesses: · He suffered severe injuries in a car crash.· The problem became so severe that they had to bring water in from other countries.· severe epilepsy
► grave used about a situation that is very serious and worrying, especially because it is dangerous or seems likely to get worse: · A thick fog descended and I knew that we were in grave danger.· The situation is grave – war now seems inevitable.
► acute used about an illness, problem, or situation that has become very serious or dangerous, and needs to be dealt with quickly: · She was taken to the hospital suffering from acute appendicitis.· In San Diego, the shortage of skilled workers is acute.
► desperate used about a situation or problem that is very serious or dangerous, especially because a lot of people need urgent help: · The situation is desperate – people here need aid before the harsh winter sets in.· The hospital is full of people in desperate need of medical attention.
► critical used about a situation that is very serious and dangerous and might get worse suddenly: · In 1991, the food supply situation became critical.· Eight people were killed and four are still in a critical condition.
► life-threatening used about a situation, illness, or condition in which someone could die: · Her child had a potentially life-threatening illness.· The situation was not life-threatening, but it was very worrying.
► be a matter of life and death spoken to be extremely serious – used when a situation is very urgent or important: · For people living with HIV, getting the right treatment is literally a matter of life and death.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► disease
a life-threatening situation, illness, or injury could cause a person to die → fatal► see thesaurus at serious· Anxiety about life-threatening diseases, dead-end jobs and diminishing funds.
► illness· Its role in alleviating the pain and distress of non life-threatening illness is ignored.· A life-threatening illness policy has the widest application and is useful for non-AIDS-related purposes.· When you live alone it is very easy to magnify every little ache and pain into a life-threatening illness.· Instead, the Bank chose to reaffirm its approach to life-threatening illness in general.· The focus of these policies is life-threatening illness in general.· The boy, facing life-threatening illness, dreamed of taking a life.· Many other examples of life-threatening illness policies can be found.· The girl, facing life-threatening illness, chose to save one.