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
The diminished virulence that the pathogen evolved in response to more of its hosts dying potentially caused these earlier plague pandemics to fizzle out.
—
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 May 2025
The scale score measures the virulence of cancerous cells and tissues in the body, with a higher score meaning the cancer is more likely to spread quickly, as Biden’s has already done.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 May 2025
In Canada, modest supply management policies keep farmgate and farmer pay prices higher, while disincentivizing the buildout of fast-paced, crowded and large scale production facilities at the heart of avian flu virulence.
—Errol Schweizer, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for virulence
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 May 2025
The scale score measures the virulence of cancerous cells and tissues in the body, with a higher score meaning the cancer is more likely to spread quickly, as Biden’s has already done.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 May 2025
In Canada, modest supply management policies keep farmgate and farmer pay prices higher, while disincentivizing the buildout of fast-paced, crowded and large scale production facilities at the heart of avian flu virulence.
—Errol Schweizer, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for virulence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virulence
Noun
-
Both a quarantine and blockade are similar in essence, though differ in personnel and severity.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Scientists have tried to artificially bolster Florida’s coral populations by rearing colonies in nurseries both onshore and offshore, but the success of these efforts will depend on the frequency and severity of future bleaching events, the report said.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For the next 10 to 48 hours, the paste is gently stirred over very low heat, a step that cooks away any excess bitterness, acidity, and liquid.—
Aleksandra Crapanzano,
The Atlantic,
27 Oct. 2025
-
This brightness is anchored by the deep earthy bitterness of the Cynar, the Japanese Whiskey offers a soft grain finish, and the salt keeps the whole project from becoming too bitter.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Naroditsky’s untimely death has shined a spotlight on the dark underbelly of the game that fellow pros say brought undue hostility upon the chess star in his final months.—
Corey Williams,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Presidents have wide latitude to deploy the Guard, and protection of federal property is an obvious justification in this season of violent hostility to ICE.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
They’re built not to resist developers but, as their name suggests, they’re intentionally designed, with a degree of malice, to annoy someone specific.—
Lilit Marcus,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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Emerson's defense team argued that the case was more about mental health than malice.—
Maddie Garfinkle,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
All brittleness and bile in the hands of Diego Luna, Valentín’s quiet righteousness rubs up against his cellmate’s grandiosity in all the wrong ways — at first.—
Blythe Marks,
Them.,
17 Oct. 2025
-
That means good bile flow (supported by healthy fats, hydration and fiber) and regular bowel movements so waste doesn’t get reabsorbed.—
Lauren Mallers,
Sacbee.com,
8 Oct. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Virulence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virulence. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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