strychnine

noun

strych·​nine ˈstrik-ˌnīn  -nən  -ˌnēn 

: a bitter poisonous alkaloid C₂₁H₂₂N₂O₂ that is obtained from nux vomica and related plants (genus Strychnos) and is used as a poison (as for rodents) and medicinally as a stimulant of the central nervous system

Examples of strychnine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Without a mask, without fear of needing lung implants, without having to worry about inhaling a soupçon of strychnine or similar industrial pollutants. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Another such method is setting out toxic baits—strychnine is commonly used for this purpose. — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026

Condors vanished from the state’s North Coast after the arrival of European settlers, who killed other animals with lead bullets and strychnine — poisoning the raptors that feed on carrion. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026

No autopsy was conducted, and relatives later told authorities his symptoms resembled poisoning by strychnine, a powerful and deadly toxin. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from New Latin Strychnos, from Latin, nightshade, from Greek

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for strychnine

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• brucine
• byline

Kids Definition

strychnine

noun

strych·​nine ˈstrik-ˌnīn 

-nən, 

-ˌnēn

: a bitter poison that is obtained from certain plants, acts as a stimulant to the central nervous system, and is used especially as a rat poison

Medical Definition

strychnine

noun

strych·​nine ˈstrik-ˌnīn  -nən  -ˌnēn 

: a bitter poisonous alkaloid C₂₁H₂₂N₂O₂ that is obtained from nux vomica and related plants of the genus Strychnos and is used as a poison (as for rodents) and medicinally as a stimulant of the central nervous system