1
a
: a substance that through its chemical action usually kills, injures, or impairs an organism
b(1)
: something destructive or harmful
(2)
: an object of aversion or abhorrence
2
: a substance that inhibits the activity of another substance or the course of a reaction or process
a catalyst poison
poisoned; poisoning
ˈpȯiz-niŋ 
ˈpȯi-zᵊn-iŋ
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
Charles DickensSynonyms
Examples of poison in a Sentence
Noun
a jar of rat poison
The killer gave her victims food laced with poison.
suck poison from a snake bite
The villain in the play dies by drinking a vial of poison.
Poverty is a poison to society.
Verb
How did the murderer poison the victim?
Hundreds were poisoned from drinking the contaminated water.
He was poisoned with cyanide.
The factory poisoned the air with its fumes.
Illegal dumping of waste is poisoning the stream and killing fish.
He poisoned their minds with hatred for her.
His angry outburst poisoned the atmosphere of the party.
Adjective
the witch gave Snow White a poison apple
Recent Examples on the WebZoe Jaeger, Journal Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2024
Recall that the Nazis in Germany, Hugo Chávez in Venezuela and Recep Erdogan in Turkey won power in democratic elections, proving that the pipe of democracy can spill out any number of poisons and pollutants when left to its own devices.
—Bryan C. Donohue, Baltimore Sun, 15 July 2024
Matthew Kirschenbaum, The Atlantic, 16 Aug. 2024
Connecticut law requires that every child between the ages of 9 months and 35 months get tested for lead poisoning each year.
—Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 8 Aug. 2024
National Geographic, 28 Feb. 2020
Some farmers even intentionally poison cranes to stop them from foraging in their crops.
—National Geographic, 10 Feb. 2020
See all Example Sentences for poison 
Noun
Be aware of the potential health threats Consumers of delta-8 and similar products have reported bad reactions to the Food and Drug Administration and poison control centers across the country.
—Zoe Jaeger, Journal Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2024
Recall that the Nazis in Germany, Hugo Chávez in Venezuela and Recep Erdogan in Turkey won power in democratic elections, proving that the pipe of democracy can spill out any number of poisons and pollutants when left to its own devices.
—Bryan C. Donohue, Baltimore Sun, 15 July 2024
Verb
The Vance-couch meme does not demonstrate that Democrats are poisoning the information landscape in equal measure with Trump, creating even more work for all the hapless guardians of accuracy.
—Matthew Kirschenbaum, The Atlantic, 16 Aug. 2024
Connecticut law requires that every child between the ages of 9 months and 35 months get tested for lead poisoning each year.
—Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 8 Aug. 2024
Adjective
Behavior and reproduction Most frogs are nocturnal, but not poison frogs.
—National Geographic, 28 Feb. 2020
Some farmers even intentionally poison cranes to stop them from foraging in their crops.
—National Geographic, 10 Feb. 2020
See all Example Sentences for poison
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'poison.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near poison
Cite this Entry
“Poison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poison. Accessed 8 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
poison
1 of 3 noun
poi·son
ˈpȯiz-ən
1
: a substance that by its chemical action can kill or injure a living thing
2
: something destructive or harmful
poison
3 of 3 adjective
: poisonous
a poison plant
Etymology
Noun
Middle English poison "poison, a poisonous drink," from early French poison "drink, potion, poison," from Latin potion-, potio "a drink, potion" — related to potion
Medical Definition
poison
1 of 3 noun
poi·son
ˈpȯiz-ᵊn
1
: a substance that through its chemical action usually kills, injures, or impairs an organism
2
: a substance that inhibits the activity of another substance or the course of a reaction or process
a catalyst poison
poison
2 of 3 transitive verb
poisoned; poisoning
ˈpȯiz-niŋ, -ᵊn-iŋ
1
: to injure or kill with poison
2
: to treat, taint, or impregnate with poison
poison
3 of 3 adjective1
: poisonous
a poison plant
2
: impregnated with poison
a poison arrow
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