virulent

adjective

ˈvir-ə-lənt How to pronounce virulent (audio)
Definition of virulentnext
as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it the virulent look on her face warned me that she was about to say something unkind

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 virulent The virus is spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes and breathes and can remain virulent for up to two hours. — Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 24 Aug. 2026 The isotopes that make up radiopharmaceuticals are just as virulent as the beam radiation patients have begrudgingly tolerated for decades. — Allison Deangelis, STAT, 10 Aug. 2026 The feminist progress of the past half century has been met with a virulent backlash of misogyny. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026 Further tests showed that the thick sticky coating made these bacteria more virulent than the normal-looking bacteria from the first urine sample. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for virulent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virulent
  1. malicious
  2. vicious
  3. cruel
  4. hateful
  5. nasty
Adjective
  • Authorities have described the more than two dozen threats as malicious hoaxes, and no actual attacks have been carried out.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Iran has been linked to at least one incident in Israel earlier in the spring, though that breach involved a lot more sophistication and malicious activity.
    — Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of malicious
Adjective
  • For the moment, Trump’s vicious bigotry has alienated most independent voters and even some Republicans.
    — David Yassky, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Outside observers described his vicious consolidation of power as an attempt to compensate for his youth, his limited political experience, and his complete lack of a military background.
    — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of vicious
Adjective
  • Newsom and other opponents of capital punishment have long argued that the process is costly, cruel and discriminatory, with death sentences disproportionately handed down to defendants of color.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • In a cruel twist of fate, the back half of the trailer shows Geoff being affected by severe confusion, sitting outside his house in the cold.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • Violent mobs carrying Palestinian flags clashed with police, looted hundreds of stores, and flooded social media with over 1,300 hateful anti-Semitic posts.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The Illinois High School Association is responding as an investigation continues into hateful comments against Evanston Township High School students who were part of marching band during a football game at the new Ryan Field last week.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of hateful
Adjective
  • Surely, though, it is not lost on the audience that this play opens in the middle of a strikingly nasty political campaign to elect members of the Chicago school board, warring Democrats all.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Someone who hung up on your problem is unlikely to listen to a nasty critique and vow to reform.
    — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of nasty

Browse Nearby Words

virulency
virulent
virulently
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Virulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virulent. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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