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
1
as in taints
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
poisoning the minds of impressionable children with ethnic hatred
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pollutes
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
exhaust fumes poisoning the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in corrupts
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
this party partisanship poisons the national debate we should be having about this urgent problem
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of poisons
Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Last November, a report from state wildlife officials found blood-thinning rat poisons in more than 69 percent of wildlife tested, including 95 percent of mountain lions and 100 percent of golden eagles.
—Arkansas Online, 20 Jan. 2026
These poisons are from different trees.
—Nate Atkins, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
For example, the curare plant poisons used by South and Central American hunters paralyzes the respiratory system.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
The French had long prohibited the use of poisons as unfamiliar plants or concoctions were often understood to be at the time, and traditional healing practices were likewise restricted or banned.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
This toxin slowly poisons nerves.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
Inside this deep-sea chemistry lab, the two poisons lock together into solid orpiment (As₂S₃) crystals, transforming them from lethal threats into inert, glittering deposits.
—New Atlas, 16 Nov. 2025
Perhaps because tomato juice is nutritious, packed with vitamins and antioxidants, and the spiciness can induce a sweat, which, as people like to believe, rids the body of poisons.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
Percy needs the fleece to save Camp Half-Blood after Luke poisons Thalia’s pine tree, weakening the protective barrier and allowing monsters to breach the camp.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Last November, a report from state wildlife officials found blood-thinning rat poisons in more than 69 percent of wildlife tested, including 95 percent of mountain lions and 100 percent of golden eagles.
—Arkansas Online, 20 Jan. 2026
These poisons are from different trees.
—Nate Atkins, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
For example, the curare plant poisons used by South and Central American hunters paralyzes the respiratory system.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
The French had long prohibited the use of poisons as unfamiliar plants or concoctions were often understood to be at the time, and traditional healing practices were likewise restricted or banned.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
This toxin slowly poisons nerves.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
Inside this deep-sea chemistry lab, the two poisons lock together into solid orpiment (As₂S₃) crystals, transforming them from lethal threats into inert, glittering deposits.
—New Atlas, 16 Nov. 2025
Perhaps because tomato juice is nutritious, packed with vitamins and antioxidants, and the spiciness can induce a sweat, which, as people like to believe, rids the body of poisons.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poisons
Noun
-
The models, called Eden, will be used to help advance gene editing and potential cures to deadly diseases.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Holmes experienced a meteoric rise in the early 2010s with the initial success of her company, Theranos, which claimed its medical device could detect diseases from a few drops of blood at a fraction of the price.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
23 Jan. 2026
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
-
For example, forum participants said a person could sue a company or entity that pollutes a river because the river has the right to be pollution-free.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
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
Verb
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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
-
Instead of a warning event, Expeditions imagines the historical fall that corrupts the Earth.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
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So, as mortgage rates drop, the mREIT’s stash turns into a lucrative collector’s edition.—
Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Your skin turns white or blue-gray as frostbite progresses and harms all layers of the skin and tissue beneath it.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
22 Jan. 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
-
Sinners leading all nominees by a record-breaking margin could shake up the Oscar race, which seemed destined to come down to One Battle After Another and Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet (the two films recently shared the Best Picture spoils at the Golden Globes).—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
22 Jan. 2026
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With the victory spoils, Ruel collects A$50,000 ($33,700) courtesy of APRA AMCOS, Alberts and Sony Music Publishing.—
Lars Brandle,
Billboard,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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These cards may contain batteries or nonrecyclable material that contaminates other paper.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Untreated nitrogen often contaminates groundwater and causes algal blooms that damage ecosystems.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poisons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poisons. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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