VIRULENT
Dictionary entry overview: What does virulent mean?
• VIRULENT (adjective)
The adjective VIRULENT has 3 senses:
1. extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom
2. infectious; having the ability to cause disease
3. harsh or corrosive in tone
Familiarity information: VIRULENT used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• VIRULENT (adjective)
Meaning:
Extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom
Synonyms:
venomous; virulent; deadly
Context examples:
venomous snakes / a virulent insect bite
Similar:
toxic (of or relating to or caused by a toxin or poison)
Meaning:
Infectious; having the ability to cause disease
Similar:
highly infective ((of a microorganism) extremely infective)
deadly ((of a disease) having a rapid course and violent effect)
Antonym:
avirulent (not virulent; unable to produce disease)
Meaning:
Harsh or corrosive in tone
Synonyms:
vitriolic; acid; blistering; caustic; venomous; sulphurous; sulfurous; acrid; acerbic; acerb; bitter; virulent
Context examples:
an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose / a barrage of acid comments / her acrid remarks make her many enemies / bitter words / blistering criticism / caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics / a sulfurous denunciation / a vitriolic critique
Similar:
unpleasant (disagreeable to the senses, to the mind, or feelings)
"Curiosity killed the cat. Satisfaction brought it back, that's why the cat has nine lives" (English proverb)
"That which does not kill you, makes you stronger." (Friedrich Nietzsche)
"The deserter is the brother of the murderer." (Arabic proverb)
"The word goes out but the message is lost." (Corsican proverb)
