virulent

Adjective
US[vir-uh-luhnt]/ˈvɪrələnt/3 syllables
Synonyms: deadlyvenomousacerbacerbicacidacridbitterblisteringcausticsulfuroussulphurousvitriolic

Open English WordNet

Adjective (3)

  1. extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom“venomous snakes”“a virulent insect bite”Synonyms: deadlyvenomousOpposite atoxicSimilar toxic
  2. infectious; having the ability to cause diseaseOpposite avirulentSimilar highly infective, deadly
  3. harsh or corrosive in tone“an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose”“a barrage of acid comments”“her acrid remarks make her many enemies”“bitter words”“blistering criticism”“caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics”“a sulfurous denunciation”“a vitriolic critique”Synonyms: acerbacerbicacidacridbitterblisteringcausticsulfuroussulphurousvitriolicOpposite pleasantSimilar unpleasant

Related words virulence noun, virulency noun

Word of the day · Oct 17About this word
ephemeranoun

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Vir′u·lent adjective

Origin: L. virulentus, fr. virus poison: cf. F. virulent. See Virus.

1. Extremely poisonous or venomous; very active in doing injury.

A contagious disorder rendered more virulent by uncleanness.— Sir Walter Scott

2. Very bitter in enmity; actuated by a desire to injure; malignant; as, a virulent invective.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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