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Venomous - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Venomous describes an animal, such as a snake or spider, that produces poison to harm or kill through bites or stings. It can also describe malicious behavior.

venomous

/ˈvɛnəməs/ /ˈvɛnəməs/

Definition:

Producing or capable of injecting venom; extremely poisonous or harmful.

Synonyms:

toxic, poisonous, deadly, noxious, virulent

Part of Speech:

adjective

Antonyms:

harmless, benign, nonpoisonous

Common Collocations:

venomous snake, venomous bite, venomous creature, venomous sting

Derivatives:

venomously, venomousness

Usage Tips:

Use "venomous" for creatures that inject venom; "poisonous" applies to things harmful if ingested or touched.

Common Phrases:

a venomous tongue, strike like a venomous snake, full of venomous hatred

Etymology:

From Latin *venenum* (poison), via Old French *venimeux*.

Examples:

  • 1. The snake's venomous bite required immediate medical attention.
  • 2. Her venomous remarks left everyone in the room stunned.
  • 3. Some spiders are highly venomous and dangerous to humans.
  • 4. The critic wrote a venomous review of the new film.

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