poison 1 of 3

Definition of poisonnext

poison

2 of 3

noun

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

poison

3 of 3

verb

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2
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as in to turn
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 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
Her study provided precise scientific rules for how air and poison interacted inside the filter, helping to improve gas mask technology. Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2026 The proceeds from the purchase will support an early childhood curriculum emphasizing altruism and empathy, designed to inoculate young minds against the dangers of extremism and hate before such poison can take root. Elliott Broidy, Sun Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Sensing Scarlet’s resolve to destroy him, Claudius poisons her. Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026 The bulletin highlights the case of James Craig, who was convicted in July of poisoning his wife’s protein shakes with a mix of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, the medication used in eye drops. Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for poison
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poison
Noun
  • The Michigan Legislature passed a law in 2008 meant to protect the public from harmful electronic waste toxics.
    Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 27 Dec. 2025
  • East Bay parks officials say hikers should beware of an unusually large number of toxic — and potentially deadly — mushrooms sprouting across the region.
    Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 10 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • The Flint promotion scandal, which tainted at least seven promotions between 2019 and 2023, remains a source of mutual distrust inside the Michigan State Police's top ranks, records show.
    Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The stone reflects how a place once labeled as tainted came to hold some of the finest materials in the state.
    Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • For that reason, many local opponents argue that if compressor stations are going to be expanded, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection should force Iroquois to utilize less-polluting technologies such as all-electric motors.
    John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
  • View gallery - 4 images Electric passenger ferries offer a promising alternative to polluting fossil-fuel guzzlers given the relatively short hops these vessels need to make per trip.
    Stefan Ionescu February 04, New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Cold storage facilities have long struggled to automate inventory management due to frost, airflow, condensation, and glare, all of which degrade conventional sensors and scanning systems.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
  • To degrade what's left of Iran's nuclear program and missile-making capacity?
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Will this race and the other changes create an opportunity for NASCAR to turn the page on its difficult 2025?
    Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The new food pyramid has turned things upside down.
    Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless poisonous gas that at high levels can cause loss of consciousness and death.
    Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Kirk recognized that this crude conspiracism was poisonous to his project of popularizing the conservative cause.
    Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding had been allocated to disease control programs in all four states, though California Atty.
    Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
  • The disease begins with the formation of benign polyps in the body's large intestine, also known as the colon.
    Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • That made kid gloves the perfect choice for a servant handling fine silverware, where even a fingerprint could spoil the dinner presentation.
    Scott Neuman, NPR, 4 Feb. 2026
  • The Clippers tried to spoil the party, but Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets rode the good vibes of his return across the finish line.
    Oc Register, Oc Register, 31 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Poison.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poison. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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