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
On July 29, 2023, Erin Patterson, 50, allegedly served her ex-husband’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, beef wellington laced with poisonous mushrooms, which resulted in their deaths.
—
Escher Walcott, People.com, 3 June 2025
Along the Missouri River near St. Louis, outbreaks of poisonous blue-green algae, often caused by excess phosphorus and nitrogen, had forced several communities to close parks and beaches.
—Dave Hage, Literary Hub, 27 May 2025
The poisonous kernels are responsible for a significant number of suicides and homicides, particularly in rural areas of South Asia.
—Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 30 May 2025
Looking at her computer's search history, investigators found that Patterson looked up a website listing sightings of the poisonous mushroom.
—Britt Clennett, ABC News, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for poisonous
Escher Walcott, People.com, 3 June 2025
Along the Missouri River near St. Louis, outbreaks of poisonous blue-green algae, often caused by excess phosphorus and nitrogen, had forced several communities to close parks and beaches.
—Dave Hage, Literary Hub, 27 May 2025
The poisonous kernels are responsible for a significant number of suicides and homicides, particularly in rural areas of South Asia.
—Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 30 May 2025
Looking at her computer's search history, investigators found that Patterson looked up a website listing sightings of the poisonous mushroom.
—Britt Clennett, ABC News, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for poisonous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poisonous
Adjective
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Behavior and reproduction Most frogs are nocturnal, but not poison frogs.—
National Geographic,
National Geographic,
28 Feb. 2020
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Some farmers even intentionally poison cranes to stop them from foraging in their crops.—
National Geographic,
National Geographic,
10 Feb. 2020
Adjective
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That’s the best way to describe how the Boys in Blue have acted as the city emblazoned on their hats and road jerseys battles Donald Trump’s toxic alphabet soup of federal agencies that have conducted immigration sweeps across Los Angeles over the past two weeks.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2025
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Multiple residents near New York Avenue in Whiting did not know about the EPA’s plans to test the area for toxic soil.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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While the paradise flying snake is venomous, its venom is mild and poses little danger to humans.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2025
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Western diamondback rattlesnakes are venomous and found in Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.—
Helena Wegner,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poisonous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poisonous. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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