Synonyms of poisoning

poisoning

verb

present participle of poison

1

as in tainting

to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable

poisoning the minds of impressionable children with ethnic hatred

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tainting
• spoiling
• marring
• staining
• darkening
• touching
• tarnishing
• blackening
• lowering
• polluting
• discrediting
• degrading
• corrupting
• vitiating
• smearing
• distorting
• blemishing
• soiling
• blurring
• discoloring
• dirtying
• sullying
• clouding
• disgracing
• besmirching
• shaming
• dishonoring
• sinking
• fouling
• smudging
• tarring
• perverting
• debasing
• subverting
• debauching
• cheapening
• depraving
• twisting
• besmearing
• demeaning
• smirching
• smutting
• demoralizing
• abasing
• coloring
• begriming
• bastardizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cleansing
• purifying
• elevating
• magnifying
• uplifting
• glorifying
• ennobling
• dignifying
• enshrining
• hallowing

2

as in polluting

to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable

exhaust fumes poisoning the air

Synonyms & Similar Words

• polluting
• contaminating
• tainting
• infecting
• defiling
• befouling
• fouling
• staining
• diluting
• soiling
• dirtying
• rotting
• blackening
• sullying
• besmirching
• corrupting
• smudging
• spoiling
• adulterating
• muddying
• miring
• fouling up
• griming
• watering down
• smirching
• doctoring
• begriming

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cleaning
• purifying
• cleansing
• purging
• clearing
• clarifying
• distilling
• filtering
• decontaminating
• sterilizing
• disinfecting
• sanitizing

3

as in degrading

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

• degrading
• corrupting
• weakening
• deteriorating
• damaging
• diluting
• destroying
• subverting
• humiliating
• debauching
• polluting
• depraving
• ruining
• perverting
• debasing
• contaminating
• cankering
• tainting
• lessening
• prostituting
• disgracing
• warping
• cheapening
• demoralizing
• harming
• demeaning
• vitiating
• marring
• bastardizing
• abasing
• profaning
• shaming
• hurting
• thinning
• wrecking
• impairing
• dirtying
• spoiling
• defiling
• watering down
• dishonoring
• tarnishing
• humbling
• staining
• befouling
• descending
• defacing
• downgrading
• begriming
• flawing
• taking down
• depreciating
• blemishing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• improving
• elevating
• uplifting
• honoring
• enhancing
• exalting
• cleaning
• enriching
• ameliorating
• amending
• ennobling
• perfecting
• restoring
• bettering
• purifying
• cleansing
• refining
• dignifying
• respecting
• clarifying
• meliorating

4

as in turning

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

• turning
• convincing
• persuading
• biasing
• prejudicing
• influencing
• disposing
• predisposing
• inclining
• suggesting
• prepossessing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of poisoning

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

Lewis was accused of poisoning two white female housemates, assaulted by a white mob in response to the charge, and acquitted in court, only to then be accused of stealing art supplies and prohibited from reënrolling. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

It was also used in a separate supply-chain attack poisoning dozens of Red Hat packages. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 8 June 2026

While there will still be the occasional video focused on music or audio — say, poisoning AI music systems or storing data in bird song — lately Benn has been largely focused on the surveillance state. — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 6 June 2026

By Chris Boyette, CNN A California judge dismissed charges against a dermatologist accused of poisoning her husband with liquid drain cleaner, ruling that the Orange County District Attorney’s Office had withheld evidence from the grand jury that indicted her. — Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 3 June 2026

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning Symptoms of salmonella poisoning usually start six hours to six days after ingesting the bacteria. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 2 June 2026

Four people have died in California as a result of the amatoxin poisoning outbreak. — Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026

The Maya were poisoning their own water. — Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026