venom

American  

[ven-uhm] / ˈvɛn əm /

noun

• venoms
  plural

1. the poisonous fluid that some animals, as certain snakes and spiders, secrete and introduce into the bodies of their victims by biting, stinging, etc.

2. something resembling or suggesting poison in its effect; spite; malice.

   the venom of jealousy.

   Synonyms:

   hate, spleen, gall, acerbity, bitterness, acrimony, malignity

3. Archaic. poison in general.

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verb (used with object)

1. Archaic. to make venomous; envenom.

venom British  

/ ˈvɛnəm /

noun

1. a poisonous fluid secreted by such animals as certain snakes and scorpions and usually transmitted by a bite or sting

2. malice; spite

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venom Scientific  

/ vĕn′əm /

1. Any of various poisonous substances secreted by certain snakes, spiders, scorpions, and insects and transmitted to a victim by a bite or sting. Venoms are highly concentrated fluids that typically consist of dozens or hundreds of powerful enzymes, peptides, and smaller organic compounds. These compounds target and disable specific chemicals in the victim, damaging cellular and organ system function. Snake venoms, for example, contain substances that block platelet aggregation (causing bleeding) and that prevent the release of acetylcholine by nerve endings (causing muscle paralysis). Many substances contained in venoms are under investigation for use as pharmaceuticals.

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Synonym Usage

See poison.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• venomousness
  noun
• outvenom
  verb (used with object)
• unvenomed
  adjective
• venomless
  adjective
• venomous
  adjective
• venomously
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• venoms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of venom

First recorded in 1175–1225; variant of Middle English venim, from Anglo-French; Old French venim, venin, from (unattested) Vulgar Latin venīmen, for Latin venēnum “magical herb or potion, poison,” from (unattested) wenes-nom, equivalent to (unattested) wenes- desire ( see venerate, Venus) + (unattested) -nom noun suffix

Explanation

We’re pretty sure you wouldn’t drink a mysterious substance labeled “poisonous snake venom,” even if you didn’t know the meaning of venom. However, just to be clear, venom means "poison." Stay away from it. Venom is poisonous fluid produced by animals such as snakes, spiders, and certain people. Okay — we take that last one back, sort of. Scientifically speaking, people don’t produce venom, but they can certainly do so in a metaphorical sense. That’s why venom can also be used to mean “malice” or “hatred.” If you encounter someone who seems full of venom, remember that kindness can be a good antidote. (So can a really insulting remark.)

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

venom venoms

Manufacturing these treatments can be costly, their quality and effectiveness can vary, and they may not work equally well against the many different toxins found in venom from different snake species.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026

These mixtures were far more effective at blocking the harmful effects of venom than the individual proteins alone.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026

You started with so much hope and ended up with fans like my friends shooting venom at you like pissed-off cobras.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

The Tennessee native rarely injected venom into her voice, even when singing about difficult subjects — but she does it here.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

I haven't heard the cannons fire yet, so perhaps Glimmer is in some sort of coma, her heart still struggling against the wasp venom.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

The scientific research in those cases involved work around the mosquito-born chikungunya virus, a "highly-pathogenic" strain of the bird flu, a family of viruses that include smallpox and mpox, venoms and other toxins.

From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026

It could also bind to and inhibit toxins from the venoms of several other rattlesnake species.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026

For the past five years, The Liana Trust has been studying venoms from species beyond the big four to develop antidotes to them.

From BBC ● Feb. 1, 2026

In recent years, animal venoms and toxins have excited researchers because of their pharmaceutical potential.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

Beyond that is flat Lake Ontario, a zero at the beginning and a zero at the end, slate-gray and brimming with venoms.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

Related Words

• bitterness
• hatred
• rancor
• toxin