virulence

noun

ˈvir-ə-lən(t)s How to pronounce virulence (audio)
Definition of virulencenext
as in severity
biting sharpness of feeling or expression I was surprised by the virulence of the criticism

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 virulence Flu has overtaken covid in infections and hospitalizations during the winter respiratory virus season, and their virulence is becoming similar. — Fenit Nirappil, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2026 Genes involved in adaptation, such as those linked to virulence, metabolism or host interaction, also move with them. — Lily Peck, The Conversation, 17 Feb. 2026 Even controversial research aimed at enhancing pathogen transmissibility and virulence can yield valuable insights into how pathogens naturally evolve and how to prepare for future pandemics. — David Gillum, STAT, 22 Jan. 2026 One Pasteurella-like microbe carried genetic hints of virulence and has ties to deadly outbreaks in modern African elephants. — Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for virulence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virulence
  1. severity
  2. bitterness
  3. hostility
  4. malice
  5. bile
  6. virulency
Noun
  • Hammer time Rating the severity of Clippers penalties Adam Silver and the NBA finally levied a punishment on the Clippers on Wednesday after 364 days of an investigation into allegations of salary-cap circumvention.
    — Zach Harper, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The tone continues to be placid, the plunky marimba and steel drum score remains the same, and the performances only grow to feel even more remarkably lived-in as the severity of the situation clicks into place.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • This copper beauty serves up bold floral and citrus aromas, plus the signature IPA bitterness.
    — Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Little united the Syrian rebels during the country’s civil war from 2011 to 2024 outside of their hatred of Assad, and Damascus has sought to cultivate this memory of bitterness to keep the country’s disparate groups together.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of bitterness
Noun
  • Monsoon rains repeatedly destroy their shelter, and the city offers them little beyond hostility and indifference.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Aug. 2026
  • While Connecticut has responded to these attacks, creating a new student loan program and funding tens of millions in research programming in lieu of federal hostility, the attacks keep coming.
    — Derek Slap, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • Steele said authorities concluded the shooting did not meet the legal standard for a murder charge because the evidence did not support a finding of malice or premeditation.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • As Musashi clears away the malice, the locals come out of hiding, and more of Kyoto becomes available to explore.
    — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of malice
Noun
  • Her words are not of gratitude but resentment, bile and narcissism.
    — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Green can come from leafy foods, food dye or diarrhea moving bile through too fast.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of bile
Noun
  • The virulency of Covid-19 trained even those of us who shop locally out of principal to purchase online.
    — Marc Peruzzi, Outside Online, 2 Mar. 2021
Definition of virulency

Browse Nearby Words

virtus
virulence
virulency
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Cite this Entry

“Virulence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virulence. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on virulence

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about virulence

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