Toxic — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈtäk-sik/ tox·ic

Meaning & Definition of Toxic

Toxic (adjective)

  1. containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation
  2. exhibiting symptoms of infection or toxicosis
  3. extremely harsh, malicious, or harmful

Toxic (noun)

  1. a toxic substance —usually used in plural

Toxic (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. containing or contaminated with a substance capable of injuring or killing a living thing

    "certain plants are toxic if eaten"

    similar: envenomed, poison, poisoned, poisonous, 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

Toxic (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing

    "tested for toxics in the water supply"

    similar: bane, poison, toxin, venom
    related: cancer, contagion, disease, virus, fungicide, germicide, herbicide, insecticide, microbicide, pesticide, toxicant
    near: antidote, antivenin, antivenom, mithridate, cure, cure-all, elixir, panacea

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Toxic

The most common words with a similar meaning to Toxic:

envenomed, poison, poisoned, poisonous, venomous, bane, toxin, venom

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Toxic

Words with the opposite meaning of Toxic:

nonpoisonous, nontoxic, nonvenomous

Related Words for Toxic

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

Near Antonyms of Toxic

beneficial, curative, healthful, healthy, helpful, palliative, remedial, salubrious, salutary, wholesome, benign, harmless, innocuous, inoffensive, nonfatal, nonlethal, antidote, antivenin, antivenom, mithridate, cure, cure-all, elixir, panacea

Origin & Etymology of Toxic

Late Latin toxicus, from Latin toxicum poison, from Greek toxikon arrow poison, from neuter of toxikos of a bow, from toxon bow, arrow

First known use: 1664

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Toxic

Words & Phrases Containing Toxic

toxic-, toxic shock syndrome, toxic (waste) dump, toxic waste

Frequently Asked Questions about Toxic

What does "Toxic" mean?

"Toxic" means containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Toxic"?

Other words for "Toxic" include envenomed, poison, poisoned, poisonous, venomous, bane, toxin and venom. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Toxic" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Toxic"?

There are 43 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Toxic". Common alternatives include envenomed, poison, poisoned, poisonous, venomous, bane, toxin and venom.

What is the opposite of "Toxic"?

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

How do you use "Toxic" in a sentence?

Examples of "Toxic" in a sentence: "certain plants are toxic if eaten"; "tested for toxics in the water supply".

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

"Toxic" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

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

As a C1-level word, "Toxic" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Toxic"?

"Toxic" is pronounced /ˈtäk-sik/ and divided into syllables as tox·ic.