1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

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

Relevance

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
  • No information was immediately available on the severity of the injuries.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Contract terms, vendor requirements, safety programs and business continuity planning can reduce either the likelihood or financial severity of certain losses before financing enters the equation.
    — Randy Sadler, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • Magazine understands that an experience need not be melodramatic or unique to be deeply transformative, and that moments of joy or bitterness, confusion or clarity, can all sit side by side.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Don’t leave without trying the cold brew tamarindo, where the fruit’s tartness plays against the bitterness of the coffee.
    — Nikkita Nair, Saveur, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of bitterness
Noun
  • Carriers have felt more comfortable bringing ultra-large container vessels through the area even with the hostilities in the Middle East lingering.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The surge in withdrawals comes as the ICC faces hostility from Washington and a leadership crisis after ousting its own chief prosecutor.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • Stacey Humphreys, 53, was convicted of malice murder and other crimes in the 2003 killings of 33-year-old Cyndi Williams and 21-year-old Lori Brown in an Atlanta suburb.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Dmitry Gorin, a former prosecutor, said in this case prosecutors would be able to prove implied malice from Rios driving.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of malice
Noun
  • For Italian audiences, that means Angela (Vanessa Scalera) can spew bile nonstop, but there’s no question her children will stick by her.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Her words are not of gratitude but resentment, bile and narcissism.
    — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on virulence

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about virulence

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of volition

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All