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Virulent

/ˈvɪɹjʊlənt/

(of a disease or disease-causing agent) Highly infectious, malignant or deadly.

📖 Definitions of "Virulent"

adjective
  1. 1

    (of a disease or disease-causing agent) Highly infectious, malignant or deadly.

  2. 2

    Hostile to the point of being venomous; intensely acrimonious.

    "The politicians were virulent in their hatred of the president."

🔄 Synonyms of "Virulent"

15 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

WordDefinition
acerbic(figurative) Sharp, harsh, biting.
causticnounCapable of burning, corroding or destroying organic tissue.
acridSharp and harsh, or bitter and not to the taste.
vitriolic(figuratively) Bitterly scathing, caustic.
venomousOf an animal (specifically a snake) or parts of its body: producing venom (“a toxin intended for defensive or offensive use”) which is usually injected into an enemy or prey by biting or stinging; hence, of a bite or sting: injecting venom.
unpleasantNot pleasant.
acerb(archaic, figurative) Sharp and harsh in expressing oneself.
bitternounHaving an acrid taste (usually from a basic substance).
sulfurous(American spelling) Containing sulfur.
toxic(figurative) Severely negative or harmful.
blisteringnounVery hot.
sulphurous(chiefly British spelling) Alternative spelling of sulfurous. [(American spelling) Containing sulfur.]
deadlyCausing death; lethal.
acidnoun(chemistry) Any compound which yields H+ ions (protons) when dissolved in water; an Arrhenius acid.
highly infective(of a microorganism) extremely infective

↔️ Antonyms of "Virulent"

Words with the opposite meaning.

WordDefinition
avirulentNot virulent.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Virulent"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

WordDefinition
venomousOf an animal (specifically a snake) or parts of its body: producing venom (“a toxin intended for defensive or offensive use”) which is usually injected into an enemy or prey by biting or stinging; hence, of a bite or sting: injecting venom.
toxic(figurative) Severely negative or harmful.
blisteringVery hot.
causticCapable of burning, corroding or destroying organic tissue.
sulfurous(American spelling) Containing sulfur.
sulphurous(chiefly British spelling) Alternative spelling of sulfurous. [(American spelling) Containing sulfur.]
vitriolic(figuratively) Bitterly scathing, caustic.
acidOf or pertaining to an acid; acidic.
acerb(archaic, figurative) Sharp and harsh in expressing oneself.
bitterHaving an acrid taste (usually from a basic substance).
acerbic(figurative) Sharp, harsh, biting.
acridSharp and harsh, or bitter and not to the taste.
deadlyCausing death; lethal.
unpleasantNot pleasant.
highly infective(of a microorganism) extremely infective
virulencenounThe state of being virulent.
contagious(of a disease) Easily transmitted to others.
pathogenic(pathology) Able to cause (harmful) disease.
infectious(pathology, typically of a person) Able to infect others; capable of transmitting pathogens.
inflammatoryRelating to, causing, or caused by inflammation.

Words Strongly Associated with "Virulent"

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🎨 Adjectives for "Virulent"

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🏷️ Nouns for "Virulent"

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