venomous

adjective

ven·​om·​ous ˈve-nə-məs 

1

: producing venom in a specialized gland and capable of inflicting injury or death

venomous snakes

2

: full of venom: such as

a

: poisonous, envenomed

b

: noxious, pernicious

expose a venomous dope ring

—Don Porter

c

: spiteful, malevolent

venomous criticism

venomously adverb

venomousness noun

Synonyms

• envenomed
• poison
• poisoned
• poisonous
• toxic

Examples of venomous in a Sentence

The cobra is a venomous snake.

a venomous attack on his character

Recent Examples on the Web

Notably, its average venom yield — about 44 mg per bite — isn’t the highest among venomous snakes. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Barden, no stranger to venomous bites having been bitten 11 times, echoed the study’s findings for bite victims. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025

An After-Mating Meal All octopuses are venomous, with the majority of these cephalopods using their venom to fend off their predators or to immobilize their prey. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025

The article stated that there are about 600 to 700 species of cone snails, all of which are venomous. —Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English venimous, borrowed from Anglo-French venimus, venimous, from venim venom entry 1 + -us, -ous -ous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

venomous

adjective

ven·​om·​ous ˈven-ə-məs 

: having or producing venom

venomous snakes

venomously adverb

Medical Definition

venomous

adjective

ven·​om·​ous ˈven-ə-məs 

1

: poisonous

2

: producing venom in a specialized gland and capable of inflicting injury or death

the vipers, pit vipers, and coral snakes are venomous