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
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Recent Examples of virulent
In all, both Escobar and Ortega have expressed regret, have promised to prove their growth through their actions, and have also asked virulent fans to stop harassing them and their families.
—
Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
But, unfortunately, there will be more as the extraordinarily virulent pathogen continues to tear around the country.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 July 2025
Whether on purpose or by accident, Grok has been instructed or trained to reflect the style and rhetoric of a virulent bigot.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 8 July 2025
In many ways, the documentary contributed to how a significant number of people still see Malcolm X – as a violent and virulent racist.
—Ken Makin, Christian Science Monitor, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for virulent
Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
But, unfortunately, there will be more as the extraordinarily virulent pathogen continues to tear around the country.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 July 2025
Whether on purpose or by accident, Grok has been instructed or trained to reflect the style and rhetoric of a virulent bigot.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 8 July 2025
In many ways, the documentary contributed to how a significant number of people still see Malcolm X – as a violent and virulent racist.
—Ken Makin, Christian Science Monitor, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for virulent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virulent
Adjective
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The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, which potentially accesses your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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When Tony's security company faces an attack from unknown malicious forces, the family goes on the run across Europe while figuring out who is after them, according to Paramount.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Once infected, the body demands even more energy to fend off infection, leading to a vicious cycle.—
Michal Ruprecht,
NPR,
8 Sep. 2025
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Masked country crooner Orville Peck will keep his face covered while playing Vega, the vicious fighter who uses metal claws as one of his weapons.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Because of the cruel math of throughput and utilization, over ten days, only three hundred people experienced Blur.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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Tamra was awful to Gretchen back then, culminating in the Naked Wasted Party, which was one of the cruelest things to ever happen on Housewives.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Jack Osbourne has zero tolerance for hateful comments towards his late father, Ozzy Osbourne.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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YouTube videos posted from an account linked to Westman show a cache of weapons with racist, homophobic, antisemitic and hateful language against Muslims and other minority groups.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Sean Gardner/Getty Images This comes just weeks after Zilisch suffered a nasty fall from his car in Victory Lane at Watkins Glen, which resulted in a broken collarbone.—
Lydia Mee,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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Parents pushing, people cutting lines, nasty attitudes everywhere, especially outside and in Sephora.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Virulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virulent. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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