virulent
Americanadjective
adjective
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(of a microorganism) extremely infective
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(of a disease) having a rapid course and violent effect
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extremely poisonous, injurious, etc
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extremely bitter, hostile, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of virulent
1350–1400; Middle English verulent < Latin vīrulentus, equivalent to vīr ( us ) poison ( see virus) + -ulentus -ulent
Explanation
A virulent disease is one that's infectious, spreading, and making lots of people sick, while a virulent rant is just a verbal attack, causing sickness of the emotional kind. Either way, something virulent puts a strain on the people who get it. Two meanings come out of the roots for virulent: "poisonous" and "spiteful." The virus-carrying meaning of virulent often gets combined with strain, such as in a "virulent strain of the flu." Those who aren’t carrying disease but are still considered virulent most likely lash out at others with a biting tone. Unleashing acid-tongued words on someone would be considered a virulent attack.
Vocabulary lists containing virulent
100 SAT Words Beginning with "V"
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"A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Valencia is hoping to become Colombia's first woman president, and as a senator has gained a reputation as one of the most virulent critics of guerrilla groups and the left.
From Barron's • May 25, 2026
The traditional method of creating flu vaccines involves growing the virus in eggs - but this can be a problem when there are virulent avian flu strains which can kill the eggs used during manufacturing.
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026
But time travel is an imperfect science, and the technician overseeing the process is delirious from a virulent new strain of flu, so Kivrin is accidentally dropped into 1348, the year of the Black Death.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026
"The bumpier, irregular surface of the virulent strains exposes parts of the virus that are normally hidden, allowing certain antibodies to attach more easily," Dr. Bibby said.
From Science Daily • Nov. 27, 2025
Myth number three: MDR was less virulent and contagious than regular TB.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
