as in poisoned
containing or contaminated with a substance capable of injuring or killing a living thing
some evil person was leaving out poisonous meat for neighborhood dogs to eat
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Recent Examples of poisonous
For animals with severe toxicities, dialysis can be used to treat kidney failure as well as to extract poisonous substances from the blood, preventing further damage.
—
The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
If the flowers of sweet almond trees are pollinated with pollen from their bitter almond cousins, the resulting nuts are likely to be poisonous.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
Some are edible, some are medicinal, some are poisonous, all are beautiful.
—Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2026
This version is set in a seemingly poisonous, post-nuclear wasteland, filled with flaming tree trunks.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poisonous
The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
If the flowers of sweet almond trees are pollinated with pollen from their bitter almond cousins, the resulting nuts are likely to be poisonous.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
Some are edible, some are medicinal, some are poisonous, all are beautiful.
—Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2026
This version is set in a seemingly poisonous, post-nuclear wasteland, filled with flaming tree trunks.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poisonous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poisonous
Adjective
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Power to the people is poison to the powerful.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
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Dropped in recent years because carbs are poison.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Some plants are entirely toxic while only the leaves, fruits or flowers of a plant cause problems.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
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Maybe that’s because things behind the scenes were reportedly toxic as well.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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To the everyday hiker or biker, the venomous rattlesnake would likely have gone unnoticed.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 8,000 people annually are bitten by venomous snakes, with fewer than 10 deaths.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poisonous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poisonous. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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