Synonyms of poisons

poisons 1 of 2

noun

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

• diseases
• toxics
• venoms
• toxins
• pesticides
• viruses
• toxicants
• banes
• insecticides
• herbicides
• cancers
• contagions
• fungicides
• germicides
• microbicides

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• antidotes
• cures
• antivenoms
• antivenins
• elixirs
• panaceas
• mithridates
• cure-alls

poisons

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of poison

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

• taints
• spoils
• stains
• mars
• darkens
• touches
• vitiates
• tarnishes
• corrupts
• pollutes
• degrades
• discredits
• smears
• lowers
• distorts
• blackens
• soils
• blemishes
• tars
• blurs
• discolors
• disgraces
• dirties
• sullies
• smudges
• shames
• perverts
• clouds
• debases
• dishonors
• debauches
• besmirches
• sinks
• abases
• subverts
• demeans
• besmears
• depraves
• colors
• cheapens
• twists
• demoralizes
• fouls
• smirches
• smuts
• begrimes
• bastardizes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• purifies
• cleanses
• elevates
• magnifies
• ennobles
• glorifies
• uplifts
• enshrines
• dignifies
• hallows

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

• pollutes
• contaminates
• taints
• defiles
• infects
• befouls
• stains
• fouls
• soils
• dirties
• sullies
• dilutes
• besmirches
• smudges
• adulterates
• corrupts
• rots
• blackens
• muddies
• fouls up
• mires
• spoils
• doctors
• begrimes
• waters down
• grimes
• smirches

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• purifies
• cleans
• cleanses
• clarifies
• purges
• clears
• filters
• distills
• decontaminates
• sterilizes
• disinfects
• sanitizes

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

• corrupts
• degrades
• weakens
• destroys
• deteriorates
• prostitutes
• subverts
• debauches
• damages
• dilutes
• perverts
• humiliates
• depraves
• debases
• pollutes
• contaminates
• vitiates
• demeans
• taints
• abases
• disgraces
• ruins
• lessens
• cankers
• profanes
• warps
• harms
• demoralizes
• bastardizes
• mars
• cheapens
• hurts
• shames
• thins
• humbles
• wrecks
• impairs
• dirties
• flaws
• defiles
• spoils
• waters down
• stains
• dishonors
• tarnishes
• befouls
• descends
• begrimes
• defaces
• takes down
• downgrades
• depreciates
• blemishes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ennobles
• improves
• uplifts
• elevates
• enhances
• exalts
• honors
• enriches
• dignifies
• perfects
• amends
• purifies
• cleanses
• cleans
• ameliorates
• restores
• betters
• refines
• clarifies
• respects
• meliorates

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

• turns
• prejudices
• biases
• persuades
• convinces
• influences
• disposes
• predisposes
• inclines
• suggests
• prepossesses

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of poisons

Noun

Dimitri Capuani’s production design is an essential, telling element of the film, from the pill bottles on top of the fridge to the rows of poisons in the pantry that Highsmith knows Edward will spot. — Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

Wildlife officials had found that many of these poisons worked their way through the food chain, sickening and killing owls, raptors, coyotes and mountain lions. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Russia accused of trying to undermine Ukraine's allies Russia has long been accused of targeting its enemies abroad, including by using rare poisons. — CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

She was also treated for rodenticide toxicity, which occurs when humans or nontarget animals ingest rat or mouse poisons; however, caregivers did not believe that was the primary cause of her illness. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026

Duck bills have neither nerve endings for sensing toad toxins nor blood vessels for absorbing them; the juggling movements were conceivably an adaptation for rinsing poisons into the water. — Kimon De Greef, Longreads, 4 Aug. 2026

Kara’s after Krem, too, after the space pirate poisons Krypto the Superdog and has the antidote to save him. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

On their first encounter, Krem poisons Krypto, Kara's super-dog, leaving her with only three days to retrieve the antidote. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 24 June 2026

Anyone concered about a wild rat infestation should contact a professional exterminator or vector-control agency, since commercial poisons can still allow for the spread of the disease. — Jason Green, Mercury News, 11 June 2026

Verb

Set in 2029 in a future where no mutants have been born in 25 years, Jackman plays an older, grizzlier Wolverine, one whose healing factor is fading as his adamantium skeleton slowly poisons him. — Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026

Any infection can progress to a systemic disease that poisons the blood and body. — Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 5 Aug. 2026

In the film, Cady also poisons the family dog, Benjamin. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 12 June 2026

The bait poisons the entire colony, including the queen, so no new ants can be produced. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 9 June 2026

Meanwhile, the unceasing churn of clothing, footwear and accessories depletes soils, poisons the water, pollutes the air, drives deforestation, accelerates biodiversity loss and generates runaway planet-warming emissions that undermine brands’ lofty environmental ambitions. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 1 May 2026

Sensing Scarlet’s resolve to destroy him, Claudius poisons her. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026

And two, baking soda is an indiscriminate weed killer that poisons the soil. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 May 2025