venomous

adjective

ven·​om·​ous ˈve-nə-məs 

1

: producing venom in a specialized gland and capable of inflicting injury or death

venomous snakes

2

: full of venom: such as

a

: poisonous, envenomed

b

: noxious, pernicious

… expose a venomous dope ring …

—Don Porter

c

: spiteful, malevolent

venomous criticism

venomously adverb

venomousness noun

Synonyms of venomous

• poisonous
• poisoned
• poison

Examples of venomous in a Sentence

The cobra is a venomous snake.

a venomous attack on his character

Recent Examples on the Web

The Missouri Department of Conservation’s guide to the state’s snakes states that venomous snakes have fangs not found in their nonvenomous counterparts. —Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026

Meet some of their favorite venomous and nonvenomous snakes, including recent rescues from the local reptile community. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026

But there’s little debate that snakes — both venomous and nonvenomous species — play key roles in their respective ecosystems. —Carson Bonner, AJC.com, 9 June 2026

The book is full of stories of villains, like the venomous heroin that took so many of Seattle’s crusaders as well as the music industry that never quite understood where Soundgarden belonged. —Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English venimous, borrowed from Anglo-French venimus, venimous, from venim venom entry 1 + -us, -ous -ous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

venomous

adjective

ven·​om·​ous ˈven-ə-məs 

: having or producing venom

venomous snakes

venomously adverb

Medical Definition

venomous

adjective

ven·​om·​ous ˈven-ə-məs 

1

: poisonous

2

: producing venom in a specialized gland and capable of inflicting injury or death

the vipers, pit vipers, and coral snakes are venomous