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

Kyle Rittenhouse, who gained notoriety in 2020 for shooting three people at a civil rights rally in Wisconsin, said he was hospitalized on May 6 after a venomous spider bit him. —Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 7 May 2026

But the modern dragon has an extinct relative, Varanus priscus, that was much larger, likely the largest venomous animal to have ever lived. —Craig Stanford, Big Think, 7 May 2026

The California Poison Control System also notes that rattlesnakes are venomous and their bites can be dangerous or even life-threatening, with symptoms potentially developing within minutes or hours. —Staff Author, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026

The copperhead snake is the most common and prevalent venomous snake in the state, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's website. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 May 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