TOXINS Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words

toxins

noun

plural of toxin

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

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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 For years, survivors and first responders – including many who were sickened from exposure to toxins in the air – have called for more transparency and demanded the release of the documents. — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026 The hospital – Mount Sinai Medical Center – is still counting the dead from the shocking increase in people now dying from toxins released in the Twin Towers collapse. — Mike Kelly, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026 Many families say the insurer refused to test their homes for toxins left by smoke. — Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Get Enough Sleep Sleep plays an important role in keeping your brain healthy, giving your brain time to create new memories and clear away potentially harmful toxins. — Sarah Bradley, HEALTH, 30 Aug. 2026 When to Toss Leftover Rice Foodborne pathogens and their toxins can’t always be seen, smelled, or tasted, so a visual inspection alone won’t determine whether rice is safe to eat, says Baker. — Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026 Plants make toxic compounds, insects figure out ways to store or use those toxins, and the whole arms race plays out over millions of years. — Prayan Pokharel, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026 Coffman says reheating doesn’t always make food safe to eat because some bacteria can produce toxins that aren’t destroyed by reheating. — Bianca Lambert, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2026 Doctors eventually discovered that Leo’s amino acid levels were at a critical level, so he was put on haemodialysis to help clear his blood of toxins. — Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 23 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for toxins

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

Definition of poisons

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 toxics

Noun

Cuts to public agencies have coincided with outbreaks of infectious and foodborne diseases, to the point that the administration is trying to manipulate numbers to hide measles deaths.

— Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2026
Getting enough of that sweet, sweet dream sleep guarded against 83 different conditions, including cardiovascular diseases and various metabolic and psychiatric outcomes.

— Mike McRae September 17, New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of diseases

Noun

The examples include possible gain-of-function research and involve both infectious diseases, such as bird flu, and novel venoms and toxins.

— Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026
Some venoms paralyze respiratory muscles, while others destroy tissue, disrupt blood clotting, damage kidneys, or trigger cardiovascular collapse.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of venoms

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toxin

toxins

toy

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“Toxins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toxins. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of toxins

noun

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