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

His species is the largest venomous snake in the world. —Alissa Widman Neese, Axios, 29 Jan. 2025

In venomous snakes, these ridges grew longer, eventually becoming a groove that allows venom to flow from the gland to the tip of the fang—and right into the prey. —Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 28 Jan. 2025

Captured in 1937 near Port Dickson, Malaysia, the snake would go on to become the longest venomous snake ever recorded before it was killed. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

It’s scantly populated, except for the more than 150 species of venomous snakes. —Dalton Johnson, Robb Report, 21 Jan. 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