venom

1 of 2

noun

ven·​om ˈve-nəm 

1

: a toxic substance produced by some animals (such as snakes, scorpions, or bees) that is injected into prey or an enemy chiefly by biting or stinging and has an injurious or lethal effect

broadly : a substance that is poisonous

2

: a spiteful malicious feeling or state of mind : extreme ill will : malevolence

venom

2 of 2

verb

venomed; venoming; venoms

transitive verb

: envenom

Synonyms

Noun

• bane
• poison
• toxic
• toxin

Examples of venom in a Sentence

Noun

She spoke of him with venom in her voice.

He spewed venom against his rival.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Chung also used a powerful MRI scanner to produce images of the octopuses’ brains and internal organs, discovering that the males had larger venom glands than females despite their smaller size. —Jack Guy, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025

Once the venom wore off, the females merely forced the males away, with all six females surviving to lay their eggs. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025

To take one example, biologists studying the venom of a Gila monster found a hormone that is the basis of the new generation of weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic. —Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Mar. 2025

Across the world, though, there are over 2,000 species of scorpions, and about 100 of those species carry venom strong enough to be fatal, the Mayo Clinic noted. —Greg Wehner, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English venim, borrowed from Anglo-French venim, venyn, going back to Vulgar Latin *venīmen, re-formation of Latin venēnum "magical herb, poison," going back to *wenes-no-m, from *wenes- (whence vener-, venus "sexual desire, qualities exciting desire, charm") + *-no-, instrumental suffix — more at venus

Note: In the sense "poison" Latin venēnum is perhaps an avoidance euphemism, a word meaning "magical charm" being transferred to something toxic, and hence dangerous, to avoid saying the actual word. Compare Old High German gift "gift, magical drink," Modern German Gift "poison."

Verb

Middle English venimen, borrowed from Anglo-French venimer, verbal derivative of venim venom entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing venom

• spit blood/venom

Rhymes for venom

• denim
• plenum
• imipenem

Kids Definition

venom

noun

ven·​om

ˈven-əm

1

: poison produced by some animals (as a snake, scorpion, or bee) and passed to a victim usually by biting or stinging

2

: spite entry 1, malice

Medical Definition

venom

noun

ven·​om ˈven-əm 

: a toxic substance produced by some animals (as snakes, scorpions, or bees) that is injected into prey or an enemy chiefly by biting or stinging and has an injurious or lethal effect

broadly : a substance that is poisonous