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
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
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
See All Example Sentences for 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
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
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
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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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The 27-year-old was initially charged with malice murder, but it was downgraded to voluntary manslaughter as part of the plea agreement.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
-
Left unguided, students may misuse AI not out of malice, but confusion.—
Dr. Aviva Legatt,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
Noun
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The liver serves several vital functions, such as filtering blood, converting food into energy, eliminating wastes, and producing various substances like bile, proteins, and cholesterol.—
Jonathan Purtell,
Verywell Health,
13 June 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Virulence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virulence. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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