as in hatefully
in a mean or spiteful manner
an organization that is even more virulently bigoted than others of its kind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of virulently
We were warned by President and Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower, along with United States Marine Major General Smedley Butler about the virulently toxic, corruptive and destabilizing influences exerted upon our government by the military industrial complex.
—
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026
Runway is going virulently viral for all the wrong reasons, and its editor, the legendary Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), is, for once, at a loss for a withering mot juste when her advertisers demand an explanation.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
In it, Theroux meets a family at the heart of the Westboro Baptist Church – a virulently homophobic group known for its hateful protests.
—Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 25 Mar. 2026
Its rise is partly due to its strong, virulently nativist campaign against immigrants, calling for mass deportation.
—Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 20 Dec. 2025
This is a high watermark for the European far right, a once fringe movement whose virulently anti-immigration, anti-Islam and culture-war politics were shunned by the mainstream just a decade ago.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026
Runway is going virulently viral for all the wrong reasons, and its editor, the legendary Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), is, for once, at a loss for a withering mot juste when her advertisers demand an explanation.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
In it, Theroux meets a family at the heart of the Westboro Baptist Church – a virulently homophobic group known for its hateful protests.
—Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 25 Mar. 2026
Its rise is partly due to its strong, virulently nativist campaign against immigrants, calling for mass deportation.
—Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 20 Dec. 2025
This is a high watermark for the European far right, a once fringe movement whose virulently anti-immigration, anti-Islam and culture-war politics were shunned by the mainstream just a decade ago.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virulently
Adverb
-
After Adele and her mother had fought, bitterly, about her decision to keep the baby, and then more bitterly about her refusal to find Jamie in Florida and demand child support, Bromley invited her to live with him while things cooled down at home.—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
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During the Nullification Crisis of 1831–1833, partisan journalists had a major role in framing the issue and were bitterly opposed to one another, especially in South Carolina.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
26 May 2026
Adverb
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In other words, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.—
Derek Robertson,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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Joshua Booth, 51, was charged with one count of willfully or maliciously torture, maim or mutilate an animal kept for companionship or pleasure causing death, a category B felony under Nevada law, according to the Clark County District Attorney's Office.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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Are there reliable technical solutions that could keep AI from being used maliciously?—
Ahmed Hamza,
The Conversation,
5 May 2026
Adverb
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Given how suspiciously and viciously the team’s fans reacted to their ownership through the years, the Kroenkes deserved this snapshot.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
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And then Daniel Durtson viciously went off on Taylor in the BB bathroom.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Virulently.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virulently. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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