as in poisoned
containing or contaminated with a substance capable of injuring or killing a living thing
the witch gave Snow White a poison apple
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in toxic
a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing
the only way to get rid of rats is to leave out poison
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
poisoning the minds of impressionable children with ethnic hatred
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to pollute
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
exhaust fumes poisoning the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to degrade
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
this party partisanship poisons the national debate we should be having about this urgent problem
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of poison
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
Constant procedural upheaval and backlogs are poison.
—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
24 June 2026
On their first encounter, Krem poisons Krypto, Kara's super-dog, leaving her with only three days to retrieve the antidote.
—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 June 2026
Amaia Gavica,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2026
One of Robinson's attorneys, Kathryn Nester, also represented Kouri Richins, who was convicted of poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, in March 2022.
—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for poison
Adjective
Michelle spins a long and complicated tale, but insists Teddy was wrong about the Andromedans trying to infiltrate and poison humanity.
—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
Constant procedural upheaval and backlogs are poison.
—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
The beloved terrier Krypto gets shot with a poison dart that will kill him in 72 hours; that’s how long Kara has to retrieve the antidote.
—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
24 June 2026
On their first encounter, Krem poisons Krypto, Kara's super-dog, leaving her with only three days to retrieve the antidote.
—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 June 2026
Verb
If a pet is poisoned by a cane toad, there are some warning signs.
—
Amaia Gavica,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2026
One of Robinson's attorneys, Kathryn Nester, also represented Kouri Richins, who was convicted of poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, in March 2022.
—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for poison
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poison
Adjective
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All of this played out against an increasingly poisonous political environment.
-
Sago palm, oleander, foxglove, azaleas and lily of the valley are all common and all poisonous.
Noun
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Portside residents face higher cancer risk from air toxics than 93% of the nation.
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Asparagus releases a chemical toxic to root knot nematodes, a microscopic round worm that creates multiple disease and growth problems in tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes and peppers.
Verb
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That experience is quickly tainted, however, once dullness and yellowing set into the fabrics.
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Murdaugh’s attorneys appealed the convictions, saying the trial was tainted by the county clerk Becky Hill’s inappropriate comments to jurors implying his guilt.
Verb
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The solution is to support federal and state legislation that encourages lower-cost, less-polluting renewable energy to speed up the transition away from environmentally damaging fossil fuels.
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Plastics degrade into microplastics, which in humans have been linked to cancer, reproductive problems, and other health issues, and which are polluting ecosystems from coral reefs to Antarctica.
Verb
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When temperatures rise, heat can quietly degrade pantry staples, making refrigeration essential to preserve quality and flavor.
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If leaders are not present and actively developing people, the system degrades—quietly at first, then all at once.
Verb
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Some critics on social media counter that the gatherings risk turning spirituality into spectacle, performance and commodity all at once.
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The patriotic ball drop is scheduled to air at midnight ET on CNN as July 3 turns into July 4 in Times Square.
Noun
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The shipment includes emergency health kits for urgent medical care, including supplies for safe births, newborn care, disease prevention and treatment, according to the United Nations.
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The rabies vaccine, if administered immediately after exposure, is nearly 100% successful at preventing the disease, according to the World Health Organization.
Verb
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Whether they're getting greased after a Super Bowl or spoiling All-Star rosters, does any city's poles get as much attention as Philadelphia's?
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Both suet and hummingbird nectar are very susceptible to spoiling from the heat.
Cite this Entry
“Poison.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poison. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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