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 These predators chase down insects, catch them with their front pinchers, then immobilize the prey with venom from their tails. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2026 After weighing a few options, the team settled on scorpion antivenom, a costly treatment that can be difficult to produce, often involving injecting venom into horses. — Robert Hart, The Verge, 22 Oct. 2026 Existing antivenoms are generally produced by immunizing animals, including horses, with venom and extracting antibodies from their blood. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026 Spiders, for instance, have muscles surrounding their venom glands, which contract and eject venom through hollow fangs. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 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
  • The poison center data showed 233 deaths over the decade, most of which involved other substances like opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and alcohol.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 6 Nov. 2026
  • When this disintegration occurs, toxic components of the muscle fibers can enter the circulatory system and kidneys, which can cause kidney damage, essentially acting as poison to the body.
    — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of poison
Noun
  • But that was never the notion or ever had any malice or stuff like that.
    — Terry Terrones, HollywoodReporter, 9 Nov. 2026
  • As a public figure, Piker must show actual malice, meaning Jennings knew his claims were false or recklessly disregarded the truth.
    — Emma Witman, Fortune, 5 Nov. 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
  • Orlando should be proud of the people who gave those words meaning by refusing to let hatred go unanswered.
    — Linda Chapin, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026
  • The exchange is one of many contentious clashes between those who oppose data centers in their communities, which have earned bipartisan hatred, and those advocating for them.
    — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of hatred
Noun
  • Along with treatment for eligible accidents and illnesses, the policy covers veterinary exam fees, hereditary and congenital conditions, dental diseases, behavioral issues and alternative therapies.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
  • There have been periods when the human population declined because of wars or epidemics, such as the Black Death, in the fourteenth century, or the diseases brought by Europeans to the Americas in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
    — Jesús Fernández-Villaverde, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of disease
Noun
  • Plus, most rooms have a recycling bin in addition to a trash bin in the larger kitchenettes and the custom mattresses are eco-friendly, US made, and toxin-free.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Botox 101 Botulinum toxin injections, like Botox, are the most common minimally invasive cosmetic procedure performed in the United States, accounting for about half of the total.
    — Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 4 Nov. 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 14 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on venom

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about venom

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