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toxic

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noun

as in poison
a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing tested for toxics in the water supply

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 toxic
Adjective
If an item is too large for the washing machine or dishwasher, the non-toxic power of steam is often a suitable alternative. Cody Godwin, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025 Sonora Attorney General Gustavo Salas Chávez said preliminary investigations showed the deaths were caused by inhalation of toxic gases. NPR, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
Just last week, for example, the Trump administration, through its Environmental Protection Agency, proposed to withdraw two rules imposing air toxics and greenhouse gas limits on fossil-fuel power plants. Wayne Messam, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2025 The politics at Oakland Unified have moved from contentious to outright toxic in the past two years, with the board split on key votes around financial decisions. Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for toxic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toxic
Adjective
  • For all their sophistication—transforming a poisonous root and its leaves into a whole range of delicacies is no mean feat—for years such dishes were seen by the city’s elite as the food of poverty.
    Michael Snyder, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
  • By appointing a man who was deeply unpopular with fans by the end of his reign so recently, though, Wolves would have been condemning him and his players to working in a poisonous environment from day one.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The same applies to other mouse and rodent remedies, such as poison or live traps.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Set in a Wednesday-esque room, complete with moody lighting and adorned with props including dead roses, a gold candelabra, a black violin and faux poison, Gaga and Zeta-Jones sit behind a table and whisper into a microphone, aiming to help viewers relax.
    Kyle Denis, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The result is a hybrid system capable of autonomously targeting and treating disease sites with minimal disruption.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
  • As Hoffine noted, hunger often kills not just through starvation, but by weakening immune systems to the point where people can't fight off disease.
    Nurith Aizenman, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Besides, Kavian dry-prints electrodes in a variety of chemistries, and allows for rapid innovation while reducing waste and avoiding toxins.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Preliminary tests showed that ByHeart baby formula contained the type of bacteria that produces the toxin linked to a botulism outbreak, California health officials said.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Toxic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toxic. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

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