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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 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
Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 13 Jan. 2025
Veteran teams like Milwaukee know how to exploit this hole in the Spurs’ defense, forcing them to abandon their compact shell and essentially pick a poison.
—Kelly Iko, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Kristin Hostetter, Outside Online, 22 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile, legacy publishers, eager to replicate this success, chased short-term clicks instead of cultivating long-term trust and loyalty, poisoning their brands in the process.
—Dan Gardner, Forbes, 20 Jan. 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
Montgomery said contractors had also left rat poison strapped to a wooden beam under the house.
—Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 13 Jan. 2025
Veteran teams like Milwaukee know how to exploit this hole in the Spurs’ defense, forcing them to abandon their compact shell and essentially pick a poison.
—Kelly Iko, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
The federal government has been slow to respond in a meaningful way to the growing body of evidence that plastics in our food system are poisoning us.
—Kristin Hostetter, Outside Online, 22 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile, legacy publishers, eager to replicate this success, chased short-term clicks instead of cultivating long-term trust and loyalty, poisoning their brands in the process.
—Dan Gardner, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for poison
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poison
Noun
-
This strategy has amplified his visibility but has also drawn criticism for aligning with internet personalities accused of toxic and, for some, abusive behaviors.—
Kia Turner,
refinery29.com,
28 Nov. 2024
-
Fipronil is also high toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
22 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Even if Alonso stays a member of the Mets for the rest of his career and makes his way to Cooperstown, his image of the organization will always be tainted.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
-
Melbourne teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, were among six tourists who died in November after drinking alcohol that authorities suspect was tainted with methanol in Vang Vieng, a town popular with backpackers and tourists.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Or that clean energy sources pollute the environment more than fossil fuels.—
Benji Jones,
Vox,
28 Jan. 2025
-
These substances can endanger human health and the environment, polluting air, soil, groundwater, and the ocean.—
Francine Kiefer,
The Christian Science Monitor,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
This action further degrades ISIS's ability to plot and conduct terrorist attacks threatening U.S. citizens, our partners, and innocent civilians.—
Michael Dorgan,
Fox News,
1 Feb. 2025
-
Throbbing and thumping bass frequencies, which are harder to tame than higher frequencies like splashy cymbals and twangy guitars, will typically degrade the audio quality in smaller rooms.—
Parker Hall,
WIRED,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Bounds couldn't turn her back on this sweet senior dog.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
-
Krispy Kreme is turning the circumstantial situation into an annual celebration by throwing Dallas a birthday party every year until he’s all grown up.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA TODAY,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The smoke and ash from structures and cars can contain more than a hundred toxic chemicals and poisonous gases, according to state officials.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2025
-
The bacteria survived, protected and fed by the fungus—and the fungus scored a poisonous partner.—
Molly Herring,
WIRED,
26 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
If the situation worsens, companies may have to source oranges from countries even farther abroad, such as Spain, Italy, Turkey, and India, where the disease is less pronounced.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2025
-
Up to 99 percent of the rabbits died from the disease.—
Joan Morris,
The Mercury News,
3 Feb. 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
-
Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.—
Monica Mark,
The Christian Science Monitor,
10 Feb. 2023
Thesaurus Entries Near poison
Cite this Entry
“Poison.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poison. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share