toxin

noun

ˈtäk-sən How to pronounce toxin (audio)
Definition of toxinnext
as in poison
a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing read a pamphlet on the toxin responsible for botulism, a food poisoning that can cause paralysis and even death in some cases

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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 toxin But these same tools could be used to make toxins or alter the behavior of viral proteins. — ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2026 Your Bowel Movements Help Remove Toxins The nutrients in pears support healthy bowel movements by keeping stools soft, which also encourages the removal of toxins by flushing out the digestive system. — Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2026 This whole month is a bit of an emotional landmine, to put it lightly, but the first couple days of October are especially laced with toxins. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026 Toxicologists classify bisphenols as toxins called endocrine disruptors. — Sean McCann, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for toxin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toxin
  1. poison
  2. toxic
  3. disease
  4. venom
Noun
  • Previous strategies for growing plants on Mars included rinsing these poisons out, bringing supplemental fertilizers from Earth, or avoiding Martian soil entirely and using hydroponics.
    — Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The first image from the episode (see it above) shows Butters in what appears to be his backyard with the X-Pest exterminator guy, who has strapped on his tank of poison and has his sprayer wand at the ready.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of poison
Noun
  • In late May, about 50,000 people in Orange County were evacuated because, at a Garden Grove site operated by GKN Aerospace, tanks holding a volatile hazardous chemical called methyl methacrylate were at risk of exploding or leaking toxics.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • Munoz is an independent toxicologist working in collaboration with MAHA against pesticides and toxics.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
Definition of toxic
Noun
  • The first is to dramatically accelerate the pace of basic science, and the second is to accelerate curing disease and extending health span.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026
  • DeVeydt added that costs for inpatient services and pharmacy, particularly costly specialty pharmacy drugs for cancer and rare diseases, remain elevated.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of disease
Noun
  • The story begins in 1990, when John Eng, an endocrinologist at the Veterans Administration, isolated a peptide from the venom of Gila monsters, the nearly two-foot-long lizards native to the Southwest.
    — Dr. Bowman Heiden, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • However, the brown recluse and black widow spiders do have dangerous venom.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of venom

Browse Nearby Words

toxics
toxin
toxins
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Cite this Entry

“Toxin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toxin. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on toxin

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about toxin

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