as in poison
a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing read a pamphlet on the toxin responsible for botulism, a food poisoning that can cause paralysis and even death in some cases

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of toxin Death cap mushrooms earned their name because of their amanita toxins, which cause organ failure within days of consumption. Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 7 July 2025 Here's how: Combating Oxidative Stress Every day, our mouths are exposed to bacteria, toxins and environmental stressors that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), unstable molecules that damage cells and accelerate the aging process. Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025 However, the controls on toxin production are complex, and more research is needed to test this hypothesis. Gregory J. Dick, The Conversation, 26 June 2025 Sometimes called lockjaw because an early symptom is muscle pain and spasms in the jaw, tetanus is caused by toxins from a bacterium. Jen Christiansen, Scientific American, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for toxin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toxin
Noun
  • Just to name a few of the problems: gravity is too low, the radiation is too high, there’s no air, and the dirt is made of poison.
    Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2025
  • His rise is fueled by performance — raw charisma molded by handlers into populist poison.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 10 July 2025
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
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
  • 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
Noun
  • Woman screams as snake attacks—dog jumps in and takes the venom for her The video highlighted the canine parents, with viewers instantly falling in love with the unique puppies.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025
  • Do not attempt to suck out venom: This is not effective and can cause further damage to the wound.
    Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Toxin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toxin. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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