as in poisonous
containing or contaminated with a substance capable of injuring or killing a living thing
leaving poisoned food to try to kill the roaches
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in tainted
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 polluted
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 degraded
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
4
as in turned
to cause to have often negative opinions formed without sufficient knowledge
malicious rumors had poisoned many church members against the new pastor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of poisoned
Evan Mealins, The Tennessean, 10 Sep. 2025
When she was eventually released, Lee and a small group of her followers made the journey to America to spread their gospel, believing the people of Manchester to be poisoned by the teachings of the Church of England.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
This person controlled the deceased, poisoned her mind against her own children and leeched off her financially.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
The patients allegedly poisoned were between the ages of 4 and 89, according to Le Monde.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 8 Sep. 2025
An expert in metals and environmental toxins believed Ernst was poisoned on May 14 or 15, according to the charges.
—Trent Abrego, Twin Cities, 6 Sep. 2025
Abusers and traffickers are exploiting this lack of oversight—leaving women coerced, deceived, and sometimes poisoned.
—Christa Brown, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Prosecutors said Mann may have faked being poisoned as well.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025
Viktor Yushchenko, a Ukrainian presidential candidate who was poisoned with dioxin during an 2004 election campaign, perhaps by Kremlin operatives.
—Andy Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
As part of her ruling, Kreuziger barred McQueen, 59, from saying Lawrence Kenyon poisoned or attempted to poison her while they were married.
—Evan Mealins, The Tennessean, 10 Sep. 2025
When she was eventually released, Lee and a small group of her followers made the journey to America to spread their gospel, believing the people of Manchester to be poisoned by the teachings of the Church of England.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
This person controlled the deceased, poisoned her mind against her own children and leeched off her financially.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
The patients allegedly poisoned were between the ages of 4 and 89, according to Le Monde.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 8 Sep. 2025
An expert in metals and environmental toxins believed Ernst was poisoned on May 14 or 15, according to the charges.
—Trent Abrego, Twin Cities, 6 Sep. 2025
Abusers and traffickers are exploiting this lack of oversight—leaving women coerced, deceived, and sometimes poisoned.
—Christa Brown, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Prosecutors said Mann may have faked being poisoned as well.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025
Viktor Yushchenko, a Ukrainian presidential candidate who was poisoned with dioxin during an 2004 election campaign, perhaps by Kremlin operatives.
—Andy Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poisoned
Adjective
-
The other problem is that many homes have more poisonous substances easily available than in the past, Willard said.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Erin Patterson, who murdered three relatives with poisonous mushrooms, has been given a life prison sentence by the supreme court in Australia.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Buggs’ public defender also suggested that Alameda County prosecutors’ case was tainted by that bias.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
-
That Anniston’s offer is tainted is a given; that Charles is making a deal with a very bad man is obvious.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The area is significantly polluted with DDT, a chemical used as an insecticide that was banned in 1972.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Other public speakers, like Tabitha Fader, said the reroute would cause irreparable harm if wetlands and rivers were polluted during pipeline construction or in the event of a spill.—
Laura Schulte,
jsonline.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In Nero’s time, stepping onto the stage degraded the emperor’s role.—
Chris Schembra,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Long-term drought has degraded the old-growth forest where the squirrels live.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But on just the third play of the fourth quarter, veteran tight end Zach Ertz turned a short pass in the flat into a 20-yard TD.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Arkansas defensive end Phillip Lee turned a question about the challenges Ole Miss presents into a reflection on what the Razorbacks are doing.—
Tom Murphy,
Arkansas Online,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Constant procedural upheaval and backlogs are poison.—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Behavior and reproduction Most frogs are nocturnal, but not poison frogs.—
National Geographic,
National Geographic,
28 Feb. 2020
Verb
-
Then there are the therapy sessions themselves, but those needn’t be spoiled either.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Holding on for a win on Saturday finally allowed the Padres to gain a game in the NL West on the on Dodgers, who lost a fifth straight when the Orioles spoiled a no-hitter with two outs and ultimately walked off a win.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In addition, the soil was found to be contaminated with lead, arsenic and other chemicals, a legacy of industrial use prior to the community being developed.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
In late August, contaminated oysters sickened several people in Louisiana, killing two people and sending 22 others to the hospital.—
Mollye Barrows,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poisoned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poisoned. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share