cyanide
noun
cy·a·nide
ˈsī-ə-ˌnīd 
-nəd
1
: a compound of cyanogen with a more electropositive element or group: such as
b
2
Examples of cyanide in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Wongso was accused of slipping cyanide into the friend's iced Vietnamese coffee at an upscale café in Jan. 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia, per the New York Times.
—
Christine Pelisek, People.com, 10 June 2025
When ingested, cyanide affects the body's ability to use oxygen.
—Michileen Martin, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
His wife Eva Braun also killed herself by swallowing a cyanide pill.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025
For example, if an elderly person had ingested cyanide, the cause of death might have been harder to detect.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cyanide
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Christine Pelisek, People.com, 10 June 2025
When ingested, cyanide affects the body's ability to use oxygen.
—Michileen Martin, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
His wife Eva Braun also killed herself by swallowing a cyanide pill.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025
For example, if an elderly person had ingested cyanide, the cause of death might have been harder to detect.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cyanide
Cite this Entry
“Cyanide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyanide. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cyanide
noun
cy·a·nide
ˈsī-ə-ˌnīd
-nəd
: a very poisonous compound consisting of carbon and nitrogen with either sodium or potassium
Medical Definition
cyanide
noun
cy·a·nide
ˈsī-ə-ˌnīd, -nəd
: any of several compounds (as potassium cyanide) that contain the radical CN having a chemical valence of one, react with and inactivate respiratory enzymes, and are rapidly lethal producing drowsiness, tachycardia, coma, and finally death
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