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
Traces of plant toxins The chemical residues of this poisonous plant were found on 60,000-year-old quartz arrowheads.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
Both of these compounds are found in a poisonous onion called gifbol (Boophone disticha) that is still used by the region’s Indigenous hunters.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
The state also has an above average number of polluted waterways and more coal ash ponds — small, toxic water bodies near coal plants where poisonous refuse is discarded — than any other state.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 6 Jan. 2026
An herbalist who had a way with poisonous plants.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poisonous
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
Both of these compounds are found in a poisonous onion called gifbol (Boophone disticha) that is still used by the region’s Indigenous hunters.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
The state also has an above average number of polluted waterways and more coal ash ponds — small, toxic water bodies near coal plants where poisonous refuse is discarded — than any other state.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 6 Jan. 2026
An herbalist who had a way with poisonous plants.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poisonous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poisonous
Adjective
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Dropped in recent years because carbs are poison.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Jan. 2026
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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
Adjective
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Historically America’s lawmakers addressed the human and environmental impacts of the Industrial Revolution’s transformational technology only after rivers ran with toxic chemicals and mistreated workers picketed.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
25 Jan. 2026
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One of the furthest‑along examples is a one‑time experimental gene therapy called AMT‑130, which is delivered directly into the brain to lower levels of the toxic huntingtin protein.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The snake was identified as a carpet python, a non-venomous constrictor commonly found in Australia’s coastal regions.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
18 Jan. 2026
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Most venomous snakes deliver their venom through hollow fangs that typically inject it into the tissue just under the skin.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poisonous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poisonous. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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