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 smuggling of fighting roosters from Mexico has been linked to multiple outbreaks of virulent Newcastle disease in the United States, according to Animal Wellness Action. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 19 May 2026 Measles is so virulent that at least 95% of a community needs to be vaccinated with two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to avoid its spread, according to the World Health Organization. — Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 17 May 2026 The precautions are necessary, says Colleen Jonsson, a virologist at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, because of the possibility of the virus mutating to become more virulent. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 6 May 2026 Some of the bacteria that have been detected on the ISS have evolved during their time in space, including salmonella that have become more virulent and acinetobacter pittii that developed resistance to antibiotics. — Scott E. Solomon, STAT, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for virulent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virulent
  1. malicious
  2. vicious
  3. cruel
  4. hateful
  5. nasty
Adjective
  • Anthropic has reported banning accounts and tightening filters after detecting attempts to use Claude for phishing emails, malicious code and safeguard bypasses.
    — Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Rather than needing years of specialist knowledge, attackers can now use large language models to perform reconnaissance, identify weaknesses, write malicious code and map computer networks in ways that previously demanded significant expertise.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026
Definition of malicious
Adjective
  • The early Cold War liberals had read their history books and seen how the French Revolution had begun with high progressive hopes but descended into a vicious bloodbath.
    — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
  • After a similarly vicious storm struck the New York area late Friday, hundreds of thousands of utility customers were left without power, trains to New Jersey were canceled and thousands of trees were damaged or uprooted.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of vicious
Adjective
  • The heat has become so unbearable in Japan that weather officials in April announced a new term for days when maximum temperatures exceed 104 degrees — kokushobi, meaning harsh or cruel heat, according to the Japan Times.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • For thousands of Venezuelans, however, the lack of definitive answers has become one of the tragedy’s cruelest consequences.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • After about a month, when the social media and news backlash started to settle down, Johnson said the hateful comments stopped coming in.
    — Elijah Polance, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
  • White attributed most of the hateful comments to online agitators rather than true WNBA or Indiana Fever fans.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of hateful
Adjective
  • The prettiest man in football landed a nasty elbow to Ireland’s Dara O’ Shea and was justifiably handed a red card.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
  • One is the true story of a white, nasty gentleman who had more power than anybody in the United States for longer, and the other is a love story between two gay people at a time when that had to be way, way, way down low.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 7 July 2026
Definition of nasty

Browse Nearby Words

virulency
virulent
virulently
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Cite this Entry

“Virulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virulent. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of virulent for Spanish Speakers

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