as in poison
a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing read a pamphlet on the toxin responsible for botulism, a food poisoning that can cause paralysis and even death in some cases

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of toxin Compared to other toxins in the environment like plasticizers and pesticides, outdoor air pollution is the most harmful type based on current evidence causing millions of deaths per year. Matt Fuchs, Time, 10 Sep. 2025 Maybe the nuns could be transformed into spa therapists at a wellness retreat and the toxin explained away as a surfeit of matcha. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025 Curcumin's antioxidant properties may also protect the lungs from damage caused by long-term exposure to toxins. Lindsay Curtis, Health, 4 Sep. 2025 According to the Vermont Department of Health, cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae that grow in freshwater, can release toxins into the water that create unsafe swimming conditions. Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for toxin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toxin
Noun
  • Everybody agrees that social media promotes poison.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Where’s the spike in poison control calls?
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In 2023, 20 steel mills and coke plants nationwide emitted nearly 2.4 million pounds of air toxics, 289,722 tons of criteria air pollutants and 43.3 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, according to the study.
    Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Just last week, for example, the Trump administration, through its Environmental Protection Agency, proposed to withdraw two rules imposing air toxics and greenhouse gas limits on fossil-fuel power plants.
    Wayne Messam, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2025
Noun
  • Those drugs, which target rare diseases, and some newer cancer treatments are part of the reason Sun Life Financial covered 47 claims last year that cost over $3 million.
    Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Certain health conditions, including liver disease, cancer, diabetes or HIV, or immunosuppressants, raise the risk for severe illness.
    Mollye Barrows, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Victims of a snake bite are advised not to try to remove the venom themselves or to tie off the bite area.
    Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Wolf spider bites are not poisonous and won't cause sores or body-wide symptoms from its venom.
    Carrie Madormo, Health, 6 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Toxin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toxin. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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