poisonous

[ poi-zuh-nuhs ]

adjective

1. full of or containing poison:

   poisonous air; a poisonous substance.

2. harmful; destructive:

   poisonous to animals; poisonous rumors.

3. deeply malicious; malevolent:

   poisonous efforts.

poisonous

/ ˈpɔɪzənəs /

adjective

1. having the effects or qualities of a poison
2. capable of killing or inflicting injury; venomous
3. corruptive or malicious

Derived Forms

• ˈpoisonousness, noun
• ˈpoisonously, adverb

Other Words From

• poison·ous·ly adverb
• poison·ous·ness noun
• non·poison·ous adjective
• non·poison·ous·ly adverb
• non·poison·ous·ness noun
• semi·poison·ous adjective
• semi·poison·ous·ly adverb
• un·poison·ous adjective
• un·poison·ous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of poisonous¹

First recorded in 1565–75; poison + -ous

Example Sentences

Hegseth, who has questioned whether women should be allowed to serve in combat, rails in the book against “diverse recruits, pumped full of vaccines and even more poisonous ideologies.”

From Los Angeles Times

What they will reap will likely be poisonous.

From Salon

She also shared her experiences in her book, Pretty Boys are Poisonous, through two poems.

From BBC

Fox’s Instagram caption seemingly references her previous miscarriage, which she wrote about in her 2023 poetry collection, “Pretty Boys Are Poisonous.”

From Los Angeles Times

It’s hard to imagine living in that world now, where poisonous air kills children, your backyard garden, crops and even motorists who crash due to the blinding smog.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dangerous
• deadly
• destructive
• fatal
• lethal
• noxious
• pernicious
• toxic
• venomous
• vicious
• virulent