poison

²poison

verb

poi·sonedpoi·son·ing\ˈpȯiz-niŋ, ˈpȯi-z^ən-iŋ\

Definition of POISON

transitive verb

1

a : to injure or kill with poison b : to treat, taint, or impregnate with or as if with poison

2

: to exert a baneful influence on : corrupt <poisoned their minds>

3

: to inhibit the activity, course, or occurrence of <on the night when he poisoned my rest — Charles Dickens>

— poi·son·er \ˈpȯiz-nər, ˈpȯi-z^ən-ər\ noun

Examples of POISON

1. How did the murderer poison the victim?
2. Hundreds were poisoned from drinking the contaminated water.
3. He was poisoned with cyanide.
4. The factory poisoned the air with its fumes.
5. Illegal dumping of waste is poisoning the stream and killing fish.
6. He poisoned their minds with hatred for her.
7. His angry outburst poisoned the atmosphere of the party.
8. She was working in a hostile environment poisoned by sexist jokes.

First Known Use of POISON

14th century

Related to POISON

Synonyms: blemish, darken, mar, taint, spoil, stain, tarnish, touch, vitiate

Antonyms: decontaminate, purify

Related Words: begrime, besmear, besmirch, blacken, blur, cloud, dirty, discolor, pollute, smear, smirch, smudge, smut, soil, sully, tar; abase, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, foul, lower, shame, sink; bastardize, corrupt, debauch, demoralize, deprave, pervert, subvert; color, distort, twist

Near Antonyms: cleanse, purify; dignify, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, glorify, hallow, magnify, uplift

see all synonyms and antonyms

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