death cap
noun
: a very poisonous mushroom (Amanita phalloides) of deciduous woods of North America and Europe that varies in color from pure white to olive or yellow and has a prominent volva at the base
called also death cup
Examples of death cap in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Public health officials issued a second warning last month, cautioning the public against foraging for wild mushrooms, noting that many people mistakenly have eaten the death cap, which when consumed can cause severe liver damage and, in some cases, death.
—
Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The death cap is one of the most poisonous mushrooms in the world and is part of a small group of mushrooms containing amatoxins, which are highly potent compounds causing 90% of fatal mushroom poisonings globally.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
This photo provided by the California Department of Public Health shows death cap mushrooms.
—CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
But death cap mushrooms are found across California.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 28 Jan. 2026
In the Bay Area, there are two mushrooms that are unsafe for any creature, and those are the death cap (Amanita phalloides) and the western destroying angel (Amanita ocreata).
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
Those in the area who have ingested a death cap mushroom should contact the CPCS hotline at 1-800-222-1222 and seek medical attention right away, health officials advised.
—Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The toxin in death cap mushrooms, called amatoxin, can damage the kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal tract if ingested.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
The prime culprit in the current California outbreak is the death cap mushroom, Amanita phalloides, recognized as one of the world’s deadliest fungi.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
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Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The death cap is one of the most poisonous mushrooms in the world and is part of a small group of mushrooms containing amatoxins, which are highly potent compounds causing 90% of fatal mushroom poisonings globally.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
This photo provided by the California Department of Public Health shows death cap mushrooms.
—CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
But death cap mushrooms are found across California.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 28 Jan. 2026
In the Bay Area, there are two mushrooms that are unsafe for any creature, and those are the death cap (Amanita phalloides) and the western destroying angel (Amanita ocreata).
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
Those in the area who have ingested a death cap mushroom should contact the CPCS hotline at 1-800-222-1222 and seek medical attention right away, health officials advised.
—Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The toxin in death cap mushrooms, called amatoxin, can damage the kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal tract if ingested.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
The prime culprit in the current California outbreak is the death cap mushroom, Amanita phalloides, recognized as one of the world’s deadliest fungi.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Death cap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/death%20cap. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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