VIRULENCY Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

virulency

noun

ˈvir-ə-lən(t)-sē

Definition of virulency

as in severity

biting sharpness of feeling or expression the virulency of his critical judgments became the stuff of Broadway legend

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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 virulency 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for 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

Instead, that generation’s gesture seems to be stymied or to miss its target and end in bitterness—which is precisely what gives these artists’ work at its best a poignancy on the other side of its aggression and humor.

— Barry Schwabsky, ARTnews.com, 8 Sep. 2026
This copper beauty serves up bold floral and citrus aromas, plus the signature IPA bitterness.

— Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of bitterness

Noun

Those moves come amid higher oil prices, with Brent crude futures hovering around $99 a barrel Tuesday amid escalating hostilities in the Middle East.

— Sarah Min,Hugh Leask, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026
Goldman's base case Goldman's forecast is based on an increase in hostilities in the Middle East.

— Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of hostility

Noun

Firefighters and authorities in both European countries were caught off guard by the virulence of the fires, which were fueled by high temperatures and the long-term effects of climate change.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
The virulence of the French and Spanish wildfires, fueled by high temperatures and the long-term effects of climate change, caught fire crews and authorities off guard.

— Mark Carlson, Fortune, 25 July 2026

Definition of virulence

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

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virulence

virulency

virulent

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“Virulency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virulency. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of virulency

noun

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