poisons 1 of 2

plural of poison
as in diseases
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

poisons

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of poison
1
2
3
4
as in turns
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 poisons
Noun
Most died from manmade poisons. Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025 In that timespan, prosecutors say Craig researched poisons and then bought arsenic, cyanide and other deadly substances and used them to kill his wife, Angela Craig. Doc Louallen, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2025 It is built for gas exchange, not for filtering poisons. Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 While standard rat poisons accumulate in the animal’s body, the active ingredient in the Good Works contraceptive is rapidly metabolized in the rat’s liver. Nara Schoenberg, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025 Fumigants, poisons, or traps are not advised for armadillo control, say experts. Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 22 Aug. 2025 Evidence from a computer seized from Patterson’s home showing searches for other kinds of poisons was also excluded from the trial. CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poisons
Noun
  • Instead, the soldiers carried bacteria that cause enteric fever and relapsing fever, two diseases that may have hastened the army’s downfall.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Both diseases would have been deadly in the early 1800s in the absence of sanitary conditions and antibiotics.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The film centered on the Environmental Protection Agency encasing the Simpsons’ hometown of Springfield in a dome after Homer taints the area’s water supply.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But to isolate gold, galamsey workers typically use poisonous mercury, which pollutes drinking water and farmland and has been linked to serious illness and birth defects.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Debris pollutes waterways, cooking fires may spread, and the District Attorney’s Office has repeatedly documented how homeless residents are more likely to be victims of crime.
    Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
    Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Estonia also provides paid parental leave/benefit that can be used until a child turns three.
    Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
  • To spot the exact moment water turns into exotic ice, scientists used powerful X-ray beams at a synchrotron.
    Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Environmental advocates say the new regulation of air toxics, which was required under a 2022 bill called Public Protections From Toxic Air Contaminants, will make the state’s air cleaner and its people healthier.
    Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That’s the kind of failing grade that ends drives and spoils red zone trips.
    Pete Sampson, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Frozen Shrimp Shellfish, like shrimp, spoils quickly, which is why many people prefer to purchase frozen shrimp.
    Jillian Kubala, Health, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Untreated nitrogen often contaminates groundwater and causes algal blooms that damage ecosystems.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Leached water from textile waste in landfills contaminates groundwater with harmful chemicals and dyes, which can alter the pH and clarity of surface water.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 6 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Poisons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poisons. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on poisons

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!