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 remaining 45 minutes filmed at Gas South Theatre in Duluth, Georgia, is on new material, including a 14-minute joke about when he got bitten by a venomous snake. —Judith Y. Kim, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2026

Only six of those species are venomous, but all of them can be environmentally beneficial. —Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 3 June 2026

Timber Rattlesnake The Timber Rattlesnake is the largest and most dangerous of the four venomous snakes in Tennessee. —Jack Armstrong, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 3 June 2026

Meet some of their favorite venomous and non-venomous snakes, including recent rescues from the local reptile community. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 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