venom

noun

ˈve-nəm How to pronounce venom (audio)
Definition of venomnext
1
as in poison
a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing an antidote to snake venom

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in malice
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm a neighborhood gossip of such venom that she was feared by all and genuinely liked by no one

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 venom The proteins in Komodo dragon venom are too large to pass through modern humans’ stomach linings and would probably have been broken down by the Hobbits’ digestive enzymes, according to Veatch and her colleagues. — ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026 Granny doesn’t discriminate, hissing invective at both Alice and Thya with equal venom. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026 For example, vipers use their fangs to inject venom into their target. — Philip Anderson, The Conversation, 8 July 2026 According to Levine, no attempt should be made to remove the venom yourself, whether by sucking on the wound or cutting it. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for venom
Recent Examples of Synonyms for venom
  1. poison
  2. malice
  3. toxic
  4. hatred
  5. disease
  6. toxin
Noun
  • One office pointed him to a pet poison hotline, and another was an hour away and had a four-hour wait.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 25 July 2026
  • Caregivers, schools, healthcare providers, poison control centers, public health agencies and technology companies all have a role in identifying emerging risks and communicating accurate information quickly.
    — Andrew Yockey, The Conversation, 24 July 2026
Definition of poison
Noun
  • Colt Gray, now 16, pleaded guilty to 55 felony counts, including four counts of malice murder, on Friday.
    — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • The suspect, who has not been identified due to his age, faces two counts of malice murder, possession of a pistol by a minor, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 29 July 2026
Definition of malice
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
  • Considering the deep-rooted hatred that defined the Bruins-Canadiens rivalry, Neely was the ultimate villain.
    — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 25 July 2026
  • Engelbert will meet with the executive committee of the players’ union on Tuesday to discuss the recent uptick in online hatred and threats directed toward players.
    — Doug Feinberg, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of hatred
Noun
  • DeepMind’s AlphaFold, for example, has used to AI to make available new structures for more than 200 million proteins, opening new pathways for research into disease and medicine.
    — Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • The lab got its start with studies of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the 1900s, when ranchers and cattle were dying from the then-unknown disease.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Definition of disease
Noun
  • Depending on how much toxin was consumed, symptoms may start within a few hours and may include trouble swallowing, speaking and breathing, nausea and blurred vision.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
  • Warming oceans can also fuel harmful algal blooms that produce toxins capable of moving through the food chain.
    — Denis Akbari, USA Today, 24 July 2026
Definition of toxin

Browse Nearby Words

venial
venom
venomous
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Venom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/venom. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on venom

Nglish: Translation of venom for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about venom

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