hellebore
noun
hel·le·bore
ˈhe-lə-ˌbȯr 
1
: any of a genus (Helleborus) of poisonous Eurasian herbs of the buttercup family having showy flowers with petaloid sepals
also
: the dried rhizome of a hellebore (such as H. niger) formerly used in medicine
2
: a poisonous herb (genus Veratrum) of the lily family
also
: the dried rhizome of a hellebore (V. album or V. viride) that is used as an insecticide and contains toxic alkaloids that are cardiac and respiratory depressants
Examples of hellebore in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Others contend he was poisoned by his viceroy Antipater, while more modern conjectures propose the weary conqueror had picked up typhoid fever or meningitis or was done in by his over-use of the medicine hellebore, then prescribed as a purgative as well as for gout and signs of insanity.
—
John Mariani, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Ancient texts also mention two types of hellebore—white hellebore for head issues, and black hellebore for the bowels.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 July 2025
Luke and his colleagues found that while not a cultural or trading hub, the port town was known for medical concoctions based on a flowering plant called hellebore.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 July 2025
For a hardy perennial that grows in areas where many plants fail, plant hellebores.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hellebore
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John Mariani, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Ancient texts also mention two types of hellebore—white hellebore for head issues, and black hellebore for the bowels.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 July 2025
Luke and his colleagues found that while not a cultural or trading hub, the port town was known for medical concoctions based on a flowering plant called hellebore.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 July 2025
For a hardy perennial that grows in areas where many plants fail, plant hellebores.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hellebore
Cite this Entry
“Hellebore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hellebore. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hellebore
noun
hel·le·bore
ˈhel-ə-ˌbō(ə)r
-ˌbȯ(ə)r
1
: any of a genus of poisonous herbs related to the buttercups
also
: its dried root formerly used in medicine
2
: a poisonous herb related to the lilies
also
: its dried root or a product of this containing chemical substances used in medicine and insecticides
Medical Definition
hellebore
noun
hel·le·bore
ˈhel-ə-ˌbō(ə)r, -ˌbȯ(ə)r
1
a
: any herb of the genus Helleborus
b
: the dried roots and rhizome of any medicinal herb of the genus Helleborus (as black hellebore H. niger or green hellebore H. viridis) or a powder or extract of this used by the ancient Greeks and Romans in treating mental and other disorders
2
a
: any of several poisonous herbs of the genus Veratrum
b
: the dried rhizome and roots of either of two hellebores of the genus Veratrum (the false hellebore V. viride of America and V. album of Europe) or a powder or extract of this containing alkaloids (as protoveratrine) used as a cardiac and respiratory depressant and also as an insecticide
called also veratrum, white hellebore
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