as in poisons
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 toxins
Patients might be women in their 30s with an autoimmune disease like lupus or people of any age exposed to such toxins as methamphetamines or, in the past, the fen-phen appetite suppressant drug of the 1990s, later withdrawn after being linked to heart disease.
—
Elizabeth Cooney,
STAT,
26 June 2026
Daphnia that evolve resistance to those toxins can help control harmful cyanobacterial blooms.
—
Eric Palkovacs,
The Conversation,
25 June 2026
Major organs start to shut down – the barriers that separate the gut from the rest of the intestines can become more porous, leaking deadly toxins into the bloodstream and the heart fails.
—
Taylor Ward,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Normally that barrier lets nutrients through while blocking bacteria and toxins.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
If a cane toad enters a bowl of pet food or water, their toxins will contaminate it, and pets can ingest the poison that way.
—
Amaia Gavica,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2026
The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, but several factors seem to play a role, according to Mayo Clinic, including exposure to toxins, genetics, being male (as men are more likely to develop the disease than women) and age (the average age of onset is around 70).
—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
Health experts say the drug often contains chemicals and toxins, resulting in psychotic episodes and, in some cases, long-term damage.
—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
The toxins also absorb through the skin, so wearing gloves is always essential when assessing this weed.
—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
21 June 2026
Elizabeth Cooney,
STAT,
26 June 2026
Daphnia that evolve resistance to those toxins can help control harmful cyanobacterial blooms.
—
Eric Palkovacs,
The Conversation,
25 June 2026
Major organs start to shut down – the barriers that separate the gut from the rest of the intestines can become more porous, leaking deadly toxins into the bloodstream and the heart fails.
—
Taylor Ward,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Normally that barrier lets nutrients through while blocking bacteria and toxins.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
If a cane toad enters a bowl of pet food or water, their toxins will contaminate it, and pets can ingest the poison that way.
—
Amaia Gavica,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2026
The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, but several factors seem to play a role, according to Mayo Clinic, including exposure to toxins, genetics, being male (as men are more likely to develop the disease than women) and age (the average age of onset is around 70).
—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
Health experts say the drug often contains chemicals and toxins, resulting in psychotic episodes and, in some cases, long-term damage.
—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
The toxins also absorb through the skin, so wearing gloves is always essential when assessing this weed.
—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
21 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toxins
Noun
-
Kara also runs afoul of this crew, and their ruthless and eccentric leader Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts) poisons her beloved Krypto.
-
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.
Noun
-
Manufacturers should be diligently working to clean up their supply chains and manufacturing practices to ensure their products are free of PFAS and other toxics.
-
The Michigan Legislature passed a law in 2008 meant to protect the public from harmful electronic waste toxics.
Noun
-
Erika Anderson is a postdoctoral scholar at UC San Francisco harnessing molecular biology to better understand the development of diseases.
-
Health scores indicate how well a country keeps its people alive and well, like whether children are born and stay healthy, whether adults live long lives and if the incidence of preventable diseases is kept low.
Noun
-
Some people are allergic to different venoms, and could experience life-threatening anaphylaxis without immediate treatment.
-
Natural products inspired by organisms include GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss, spider and snake venoms, and compounds from plants and fungi with potential uses in pain relief and cancer treatment.
Cite this Entry
“Toxins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toxins. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
