as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
the virulent look on her face warned me that she was about to say something unkind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 virulent
The latest outbreak was caused by a virulent form, and all the infections were tied to the same strain: E. coli O157:H7.
—
Gerry Smith and Daniela Sirtori / Bloomberg, TIME, 23 Oct. 2024
Born in the Bronx, Cohn, who received his degree from Columbia Law School, was known for being a virulent anti-Communist.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2024
Armstrong made his rather virulent remarks during a Sept. 20 show with Green Day at San Francisco's Oracle Park, according to PEOPLE.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 1 Oct. 2024
The Modi government’s virulent Hindu nationalist agenda, which enables violence against religious minorities, cost the Prime Minister in the recent election.
—Rasheed Ahmed, TIME, 18 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for virulent 
Gerry Smith and Daniela Sirtori / Bloomberg, TIME, 23 Oct. 2024
Born in the Bronx, Cohn, who received his degree from Columbia Law School, was known for being a virulent anti-Communist.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2024
Armstrong made his rather virulent remarks during a Sept. 20 show with Green Day at San Francisco's Oracle Park, according to PEOPLE.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 1 Oct. 2024
The Modi government’s virulent Hindu nationalist agenda, which enables violence against religious minorities, cost the Prime Minister in the recent election.
—Rasheed Ahmed, TIME, 18 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for virulent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virulent
Adjective
-
Four vulnerabilities in WebKit were fixed in iOS 18.2, allowing memory corruption if you were persuaded to interact with malicious web content.Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
-
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
That was confirmed by his patron in Moscow, which supported the regime in crushing what started as a peaceful protest movement during the Arab Spring and became a vicious civil war that killed hundreds of thousands and sparked a refugee crisis.Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2024
-
Its main proxy, Hezbollah, was crippled by a pager attack on its hierarchy, and then by weeks of vicious airstrikes.Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Snape is the cruel but complex potions master at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, played by Alan Rickman in all seven Harry Potter films.Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
-
The season two scoop: A cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to Jacob (Ford) and Cara (Mirren) back at Dutton ranch.Marc Berman, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The Center for Countering Digital Hate recently said that X failed to remove nearly 86% of 300 hateful posts a week after the organization reported them.Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
-
Finally, there’s the late-to-the-party Johnny (Christopher Sears), a free-spirited recovering heroin addict who brings along his fellow 12-stepper Loren (Barbie Ferreira), the outsider and truth-teller whose appalled at the hateful religious vitriol spewed by Diana.Greg Evans, Deadline, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Wireless Humidifier Another Healthy Home Awards winner, this portable humidifier can sit on top of their desk or nightstand to hydrate dry skin (or help a cold feel a little less nasty).Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 10 Dec. 2024
-
Treinen rewarded his manager’s faith in him by retiring the dangerous Giancarlo Stanton on a first-pitch fly out to right field and striking out Anthony Rizzo with a nasty 86-mph sweeper to end the inning.Mike DiGiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near virulent
Cite this Entry
“Virulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virulent. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share