toxic

[ tok-sik ]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, affected with, or caused by a toxin none or poison:

   a toxic condition.

2. acting as or having the effect of a poison; poisonous:

   a toxic drug.

3. causing unpleasant feelings; harmful or malicious: toxic criticism.

   a toxic boyfriend who wanted complete control over her;

   toxic criticism.

4. Finance.
   1. pertaining to or noting debt that will probably not be repaid:

      toxic mortgages.

   2. pertaining to or noting a financial instrument or other asset that has no value or an unknown value because there is no market for it:

      toxic mortgage-backed securities.

noun

1. a toxic chemical or other substance.

toxic

/ ˈtɒksɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or caused by a toxin or poison; poisonous
2. harmful or deadly
3. (of a financial asset) likely to cause significant loss to the holder

toxic

/ tŏk′sĭk /

1. Relating to or caused by a toxin.
2. Capable of causing injury or death, especially by chemical means; poisonous.

Derived Forms

• ˈtoxically, adverb

Other Words From

• tox·i·cal·ly adverb
• hy·per·tox·ic adjective
• non·tox·ic adjective
• non·tox·i·cal·ly adverb
• post·tox·ic adjective
• un·tox·ic adjective
• un·tox·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of toxic¹

First recorded in 1655–65; from Late Latin toxicus “poisonous,” derivative of toxicum “poison,” from Greek toxikón (for toxikòn phármakon literally, “bow poison,” i.e., poison used on arrows), equivalent to tóx(on) “bow” + -ikon, neuter of -ikos adjective suffix; -ic none

Word History and Origins

Origin of toxic¹

C17: from medical Latin toxicus, from Latin toxicum poison, from Greek toxikon ( pharmakon ) (poison) used on arrows, from toxon arrow

Example Sentences

The hydrovac trucks generate potentially toxic slurry waste.

From ProPublica

I also think that media buying has a very aggressive, toxic culture tied to it.

From Digiday

They require lots of energy and produce large volumes of toxic gas too, creating more pollution and leaving a large carbon footprint.

From Singularity Hub 

A working sense of taste also helps protect us from eating something spoiled or toxic.

From Science News

Other MOFs can filter toxic chemicals from the air and then store them or help break them down.

From Science News For Students

But it is not actually as toxic as it seems (although, admittedly, it does seem pretty toxic).

From The Daily Beast

Infernal, it can cause fires and explosions; toxic, it can debilitate, poison, and kill.

From The Daily Beast

But as her audience broadens, you have to wonder, is the big-time toxic to her art?

From The Daily Beast

Republicans have a rare opportunity to implement policies that are truly compassionate and transcend toxic identity politics.

From The Daily Beast

An autopsy found highly toxic cyanide levels in the blood of the not-so-dearly departed.

From The Daily Beast

As he finds rag weed more toxic than the English timothy, his actual first dose is one-half of this theoretical dose.

From Project Gutenberg

His experiments show that amorphous phosphorus was not toxic to animals.

From Project Gutenberg

As before, I see it turn brown and die on the spot, still half inside the toxic corpse.

From Project Gutenberg

His constitution has never thrown off the malady resulting from this toxic (poisonous) agent.

From Project Gutenberg

The drowsy feeling which we experience in a crowded, ill-ventilated room is due entirely to the influence of these toxic gases.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• deadly
• harmful
• lethal
• noxious
• pernicious
• virulent