as in poisoned
containing or contaminated with a substance capable of injuring or killing a living thing
some evil person was leaving out poisonous meat for neighborhood dogs to eat
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Recent Examples of poisonous
Trump’s populist allies have learned that their most poisonous ideas have a potent audience.
—
Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Here’s a guide to nine common indoor plants that are poisonous to pets, along with the symptoms every pet owner should recognize.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Morels are edible mushrooms with a honeycomb appearance and are hollow inside, unlike poisonous false morels.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Mar. 2026
The smoke kept rising and the clouds continued to throb with sickly yellow-and-black whorls until just after sunset, when the boiling mass of vapor suddenly turned pink and scarlet, like a poisonous flower opening its petals.
—New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poisonous
Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Here’s a guide to nine common indoor plants that are poisonous to pets, along with the symptoms every pet owner should recognize.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Morels are edible mushrooms with a honeycomb appearance and are hollow inside, unlike poisonous false morels.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Mar. 2026
The smoke kept rising and the clouds continued to throb with sickly yellow-and-black whorls until just after sunset, when the boiling mass of vapor suddenly turned pink and scarlet, like a poisonous flower opening its petals.
—New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poisonous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poisonous
Adjective
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Power to the people is poison to the powerful.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
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Dropped in recent years because carbs are poison.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Spinosad, although organically certified, can be toxic to bees, and pyrethrins—derived from plants—can affect a wide range of insects.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
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For the outdoors, look to non-toxic and chemical-free (or chemical-lite) sprays.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Few animals strike as much fear into people as venomous snakes.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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About 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes annually, and — despite the two recent deaths in Southern California — only around five of the people who are bitten typically die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poisonous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poisonous. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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