Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

venomous

American  
[ven-uh-muhs] / ˈvɛn ə məs /

adjective

  1. (of an animal) having a gland or glands for secreting venom; able to inflict a poisoned bite, sting, or wound.

    a venomous snake.

  2. full of or containing venom; poisonous.

    a venomous wound; a venomous potion.

  3. spiteful; malignant.

    a venomous attack; a venomous tongue.
    Synonyms:
    ill-disposed, rancorous, hostile, malicious

Other Word Forms

  • nonvenomous adjective
  • nonvenomously adverb
  • nonvenomousness noun
  • unvenomous adjective
  • unvenomously adverb
  • unvenomousness noun
  • venomness noun
  • venomously adverb
  • venomousness noun

Etymology

Origin of venomous

1250–1300; Middle English venim ( o ) us < Anglo-French venimus ( Old French venimeux ). See venom, -ous

Compare meaning

How does venomous compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.