virulent
[ vir-yuh-luhnt, vir-uh- ]
adjective
actively poisonous; intensely noxious: a virulent insect bite.
Medicine/Medical. highly infective; malignant or deadly.
Bacteriology. causing clinical symptoms.
violently or spitefully hostile.
intensely bitter, spiteful, or malicious: a virulent attack.
Origin of virulent
1Other words for virulent
Opposites for virulent
Other words from virulent
- vir·u·lent·ly, adverb
- hy·per·vir·u·lent, adjective
- hy·per·vir·u·lent·ly, adverb
- non·vir·u·lent, adjective
- non·vir·u·lent·ly, adverb
- su·per·vir·u·lent, adjective
- su·per·vir·u·lent·ly, adverb
- un·vir·u·lent, adjective
- un·vir·u·lent·ly, adverb
Words that may be confused with virulent
- violent, virulent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for virulent
virulent
/ (ˈvɪrʊlənt) /
adjective
(of a microorganism) extremely infective
(of a disease) having a rapid course and violent effect
extremely poisonous, injurious, etc
extremely bitter, hostile, etc
Origin of virulent
1C14: from Latin vīrulentus full of poison, from vīrus poison; see virus
Derived forms of virulent
- virulently, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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