Poisonous — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈpȯiz-nəs/ poi·son·ous

Meaning & Definition of Poisonous

Poisonous (adjective)

  1. destructive, harmful
  2. having the properties or effects of poison
  3. producing a toxic substance that causes injury or death when absorbed or ingested; also, venomous

Poisonous (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: envenomed, poison, poisoned, toxic, venomous
    related: contagious, infectious, infective, pathogenic, pestilent, pestilential, baneful, deleterious, harmful, hurtful, injurious, malignant, nocuous, noxious, virulent, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome, calamitous, deadly, fatal, fell, lethal, murderous
    opposite: nonpoisonous, nontoxic, nonvenomous
    near: beneficial, curative, healthful, healthy, helpful, palliative, remedial, salubrious, salutary, wholesome, benign, harmless, innocuous, inoffensive, nonfatal, nonlethal

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Poisonous

The most common words with a similar meaning to Poisonous:

envenomed, poison, poisoned, toxic, venomous

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Poisonous

Words with the opposite meaning of Poisonous:

nonpoisonous, nontoxic, nonvenomous

Related Words for Poisonous

contagious, infectious, infective, pathogenic, pestilent, pestilential, baneful, deleterious, harmful, hurtful, injurious, malignant, nocuous, noxious, virulent, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome, calamitous, deadly, fatal, fell, lethal, murderous

Near Antonyms of Poisonous

beneficial, curative, healthful, healthy, helpful, palliative, remedial, salubrious, salutary, wholesome, benign, harmless, innocuous, inoffensive, nonfatal, nonlethal

Word Forms of Poisonous

Derived words: poisonously (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Poisonous

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Poisonous

Frequently Asked Questions about Poisonous

What does "Poisonous" mean?

"Poisonous" means destructive, harmful. As an adjective, it is defined as: destructive, harmful.

What is another word for "Poisonous"?

Other words for "Poisonous" include envenomed, poison, poisoned, toxic and venomous. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Poisonous" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Poisonous"?

There are 29 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Poisonous". Common alternatives include envenomed, poison, poisoned, toxic and venomous.

What is the opposite of "Poisonous"?

Antonyms of "Poisonous" include nonpoisonous, nontoxic and nonvenomous. Near antonyms include beneficial, curative, healthful and healthy.

How do you use "Poisonous" in a sentence?

Examples of "Poisonous" in a sentence: "some evil person was leaving out poisonous meat for neighborhood dogs to eat".

Is "Poisonous" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Poisonous" is an adjective.

Is "Poisonous" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Poisonous" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Poisonous"?

"Poisonous" is pronounced /ˈpȯiz-nəs/ and divided into syllables as poi·son·ous.