as in poisoned
containing or contaminated with a substance capable of injuring or killing a living thing
the witch gave Snow White a poison apple
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in toxic
a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing
the only way to get rid of rats is to leave out poison
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to taint
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
poisoning the minds of impressionable children with ethnic hatred
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to pollute
to make unfit for use by the addition of something harmful or undesirable
exhaust fumes poisoning the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to degrade
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
this party partisanship poisons the national debate we should be having about this urgent problem
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poison
National Geographic, 28 Feb. 2020
Some farmers even intentionally poison cranes to stop them from foraging in their crops.
—National Geographic, 10 Feb. 2020
Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
Instead of gridlock, internal combustion machines spewing their poisons, and maddened drivers sitting on their horns, there are masses of…bicycles!
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 1 July 2025
Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
An autopsy revealed the husband was poisoned with antifreeze, and his wife was revealed as a suspect in his death, the publication reported.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for poison
Adjective
Behavior and reproduction Most frogs are nocturnal, but not poison frogs.
—National Geographic, 28 Feb. 2020
Some farmers even intentionally poison cranes to stop them from foraging in their crops.
—National Geographic, 10 Feb. 2020
Noun
Regular pesticides do not work on these squirrels, and spraying more toxic poisons around the base is against federal law and could harm the children of service members who live on base.
—Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
Instead of gridlock, internal combustion machines spewing their poisons, and maddened drivers sitting on their horns, there are masses of…bicycles!
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 1 July 2025
Verb
This fast becomes a gift to scammers — especially when combined with the ease in which SEO results can seemingly now be poisoned to present malicious links.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
An autopsy revealed the husband was poisoned with antifreeze, and his wife was revealed as a suspect in his death, the publication reported.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for poison
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poison
Noun
-
The politics at Oakland Unified have moved from contentious to outright toxic in the past two years, with the board split on key votes around financial decisions.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
31 May 2025
-
Just last week, for example, the Trump administration, through its Environmental Protection Agency, proposed to withdraw two rules imposing air toxics and greenhouse gas limits on fossil-fuel power plants.—
Wayne Messam,
Sun Sentinel,
15 June 2025
Verb
-
With him alive, she was tainted by association with his poor behavior.—
Ann Foster,
JSTOR Daily,
9 July 2025
-
Combs’ reputation has been thoroughly tainted by the lurid details of the trial and strong condemnations from his many accusers.—
August Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
If contaminated floodwater is swallowed, or pollutes drinking water, this can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses such as stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.—
ByMary Kekatos,
ABC News,
11 July 2025
-
For decades, biologists have studied how cities affect wildlife by altering food supplies, fragmenting habitats and polluting the environment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
Customer service was once rated among the highest in the American Customer Satisfaction Index – until relentless budget cuts started to degrade it.—
Teresa Ghilarducci,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
-
In 1984, Francis Crick described a biological conundrum: Memories last years, while most molecules degrade in days or weeks.—
Ajdina Halilovic,
Wired News,
6 July 2025
Verb
-
Then, as the century turned, the boys were pushed aside by rough young men.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
15 July 2025
-
But the show has also increasingly thrived on the odd-couple chemistry between co-creator Downs, who plays Hollywood’s gentlest manager, and breakout star Stalter as his assistant turned partner.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
Erin Patterson has been found guilty of murdering three relatives with poisonous mushrooms following a trial that has gripped the world.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
7 July 2025
-
The atmosphere in the Rockies’ clubhouse is not toxic, unlike Chicago’s, which reportedly was poisonous for much of last season.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
4 July 2025
Noun
-
Vaccination Rates Are Declining Despite the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, and the potential severity of the disease, vaccination rates are declining.—
Dave Wessner,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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Sitting or standing on the plate for just a few minutes can help with lymphatic drainage, in return reducing swelling, boosting the immune system, and lessening the chance of disease.—
Kristin Auble,
Vogue,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Dodge won't spoil the surprise by confirming if the last one will be based on the Charger or the Challenger (or maybe both), but the evidence suggests the latter is more likely.—
Jack Fitzgerald,
Car and Driver,
13 Feb. 2023
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Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.—
Monica Mark,
The Christian Science Monitor,
10 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Poison.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poison. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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