virulent
[ vir-yuh-luhnt, vir-uh- ]
/ ˈvɪr yə lənt, ˈvɪr ə- /
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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.
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Origin of virulent
OTHER WORDS FROM virulent
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH virulent
violent, virulentDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use virulent in a sentence
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
Derived forms of virulent
virulently, adverbWord Origin for virulent
C14: from Latin vīrulentus full of poison, from vīrus poison; see virus
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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