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Synonyms

toxins

Cultural  

  1. Poisonous substances, consisting mainly of protein, that are a by-product of metabolism in certain organisms. Toxins that enter the body through a bacterial infection can be very harmful and can result in diseases such as tetanus and botulism.

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.

Toxins entered a tributary feeding the Kafue, Zambia's longest river and a major source of drinking water.

From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026

Dr. David Lo, director of UC Riverside’s Bridging Regional Ecology, Aerosolized Toxins, and Health Effects Center, said the culprit isn’t actually the chemicals in agricultural runoff.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 6, 2024

Toxins are naturally occurring substances that can cause disease, like mold or animal venom.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 30, 2023

Toxins, she pointed out, have a very specific definition: They’re poisonous substances made by an organism.

From Slate • Jan. 10, 2019

Toxins are thus introduced into the blood, not only at the primary seat of infection, but also from each of these metastatic collections.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis

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.