neurotoxic

American  

[noor-oh-tok-sik, nyoor-] / ˌnʊər oʊˈtɒk sɪk, ˌnyʊər- /

adjective

1. poisonous to nerve tissue, as to the brain or spinal cord.

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Etymology

Origin of neurotoxic

First recorded in 1900–05; neuro- + toxic

Example Sentences

As a result, tryptophan is redirected toward the kynurenic pathway, which produces neurotoxic compounds, while the production of protective neurotransmitters such as serotonin and melatonin declines.

From Science Daily • Jan. 15, 2026

Other studies have found high levels of ultrafine particles, which can carry neurotoxic and other chemicals.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

During a recent court case, an EPA scientist said that higher levels of fluoride likely had neurotoxic effects — although he did not specify what level constituted a hazardous dose.

From Salon • May 7, 2024

Then along came George Ricaurte, a neurologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who made a name for himself by touting the alleged neurotoxic and lethal effects of MDMA.

From Scientific American • Feb. 7, 2022

It was at first believed that there were two types of venoms: neurotoxic, which acts upon nervous tissue; and haemotoxic, which acts on blood and other tissues.

From Natural History of Cottonmouth Moccasin, Agkistrodon piscovorus (Reptilia) by Burkett, Ray D.