as in severity
biting sharpness of feeling or expression
I was surprised by the virulence of the criticism
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Recent Examples of virulence
Everything about the movement surprised political observers: its virulence, its magnitude, its provincial origins, its apparent lack of structure and leadership, and its adamant refusal to be co-opted by existing political parties and unions.
—
Arthur Goldhammer, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2018
An ePPP is a pathogen that has been modified to enhance its transmissibility and virulence.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Still others are investigating viruses that attack Bd and eventually might be used to reduce its virulence.
—Martin J. Kernan, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2024
Assuming the contagiousness and virulence of Neolithic diseases increased through time, dense settlements such as Çatalhöyük may have reached a tipping point where the effects of disease outweighed the benefits of living closely together.
—R. Alexander Bentley, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for virulence
Arthur Goldhammer, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2018
An ePPP is a pathogen that has been modified to enhance its transmissibility and virulence.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Still others are investigating viruses that attack Bd and eventually might be used to reduce its virulence.
—Martin J. Kernan, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2024
Assuming the contagiousness and virulence of Neolithic diseases increased through time, dense settlements such as Çatalhöyük may have reached a tipping point where the effects of disease outweighed the benefits of living closely together.
—R. Alexander Bentley, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for virulence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virulence
Noun
-
Nearly 90% of natural gas processing, fractionation, and storage is concentrated in four regions in the U.S., each subject to various environmental hazards that will incur greater complications and costs as climate change exacerbates natural disasters’ frequency and severity.—
Erik Kobayashi-Solomon,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
-
Try supplements: Certain supplements, such as Riboflavin and CoQ10, can help reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.—
Verywell Health,
Verywell Health,
6 June 2025
Noun
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The hostility of the state intensified with the BBC's 100 Women list, and a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.—
Mahrang Baloch,
Time,
10 June 2025
-
Intense hostility all around means that for now, neither Russia nor China is even willing to sit down to discuss nuclear restraints, in treaty form or otherwise.—
Matthew Bunn,
The Conversation,
6 June 2025
Noun
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As to the media statements, Cook could not offer adequate proof of one element ― malice ― and so could not make out a prima facie case for defamation as to the media statements.—
Jay Adkisson,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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The actress, however, bore no malice, moving to Europe until her death from a brain tumor in 2011, aged 58.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
14 May 2025
Noun
-
According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease begins in the slender tubes that carry digestive bile and is associated with symptoms like abdominal pain, fatigue, fever and night sweats.—
Jordan Greene,
People.com,
2 May 2025
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When there are no bile ducts left, bile builds up in the body, causing liver damage.—
Korin Miller,
Flow Space,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Virulence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virulence. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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