virulent

American  

[vir-yuh-luhnt, vir-uh-] / ˈvɪr yə lənt, ˈvɪr ə- /

adjective

1. actively poisonous; intensely noxious.

   a virulent insect bite.

   Synonyms:

   venomous

   Antonyms:

   harmless

2. Medicine/Medical. highly infective; malignant or deadly.

3. Bacteriology. causing clinical symptoms.

4. violently or spitefully hostile.

5. intensely bitter, spiteful, or malicious.

   a virulent attack.

   Synonyms:

   acerbic, vicious

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virulent British  

/ ˈvɪrʊlənt /

adjective

1. 1. (of a microorganism) extremely infective

   2. (of a disease) having a rapid course and violent effect

2. extremely poisonous, injurious, etc

3. extremely bitter, hostile, etc

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Other Word Forms

• hypervirulent adjective
• hypervirulently adverb
• nonvirulent adjective
• nonvirulently adverb
• supervirulent adjective
• supervirulently adverb
• unvirulent adjective
• unvirulently adverb
• virulently adverb

Etymology

Origin of virulent

1350–1400; Middle English verulent < Latin vīrulentus, equivalent to vīr ( us ) poison ( virus ) + -ulentus -ulent

Example Sentences

But in the sentencing, Judge Richard Marks KC said the case involved "recklessness on a very high scale and language of a virulent nature".

From BBC

It said there had been outbreaks on wards and the dominant strain was "particularly virulent".

From BBC

"This is a particularly virulent strain of influenza and there are lots of children experiencing very high temperatures and they are experiencing the flu for much longer than we would expect."

From BBC

She explained that the vaccine strain appears smooth and stable at the surface, while the virulent strain has a noticeably uneven, textured exterior.

From Science Daily

Viruses can mutate to escape from antibodies, but the mRNA vaccines are not causing the emergence of more virulent strains, likely for at least two reasons.

From Salon

Related Words

• acrimonious
• bitter
• hateful
• malicious
• rancorous
• scathing
• vicious
• vitriolic