poisons 1 of 2

Definition of poisonsnext
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

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poisons

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of poison
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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

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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
And nobody from the department asked the legislature to reconsider recent laws that gradually banned the strongest rat poisons. Susan Shelley, Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026 Harold Allen obituary/Ashley Jones Facebook Investigators say those thousands of texts revealed Marsha and Ashley tried to kill Harold over and over again with a variety of exotic poisons. Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026 When new hire Pumpkin arrives and challenges their performative sisterhood, the women are forced to confront their own poisons. Kennedy French, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026 The full Senate is set to consider Senate Bill 62, a measure that would restrict the sale and use of certain rat poisons in Colorado, for an informal vote. Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026 Mercury’s alignment with Mars poisons a cooperative project. Usa Today, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026 For some poisons, delaying a visit to the vet by just hours can be the difference between life and death. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026 To get rid of moles, there is no need to reach for chemical poisons—there are plenty of natural ways to deter moles. Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 7 Mar. 2026 Toxic poisons sprayed in our lakes and rivers not only kill weeds but also wildlife. Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
Sensing Scarlet’s resolve to destroy him, Claudius poisons her. Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poisons
Noun
  • Overwatering can leave grass with weak roots and vulnerable to diseases, so stick to a schedule and spot-treat patches if needed.
    Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 17 Apr. 2026
  • However, these squashes can also be vulnerable to common plant diseases like powdery mildew or mosaic virus.
    Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The sarcasm taints the question but doesn’t invalidate it.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
  • 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
  • The debris ultimately enters storm drains and the adjacent river, which pollutes our shoreline and environment.
    Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Fertilizer runoff pollutes water sources and fuels toxic algae blooms.
    Frank Morris, NPR, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • His relationship with his Jewish neighbors, the Brodskys, grows closer as Nazi power corrupts France.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
  • As Jay Jonah Atterbury, one of a handful of new characters on the fourth season of Industry, Kal Penn weaponizes and corrupts the stoner quirks viewers may recognize from his years playing Kumar Patel in the Harold & Kumar films.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The Whip turns 100 years old at Kennywood The 25th anniversary of the Phantom's Revenge isn't the only milestone for one of the park's ride, however, as the Whip is turning 100 years old this year.
    Mike Darnay, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Mulligan delivers lacerating fragility, while Isaac turns Josh’s accommodating nature into a pathology, but both characters are littered with backstory details that Beef leaves hanging.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The Michigan Legislature passed a law in 2008 meant to protect the public from harmful electronic waste toxics.
    Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 27 Dec. 2025
  • 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
  • Pushing too much hostility between team members or pushing Anthony too hard to be the peacekeeper could easily create an ugly atmosphere that spoils the vibe.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Frozen fruit keeps it affordable year-round and nothing spoils mid-week.
    Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Putting even a small piece of trash in the recycling stream or non-compostable items in the compost bin can require additional effort to re-sort at processing facilities, which increases costs and energy usage, or contaminates the entire process altogether, ultimately creating more trash.
    Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026
  • This act contaminates the water, kills all the fish, and makes the water non-potable.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026

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“Poisons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poisons. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

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