poison
noun
a substance with an inherent property that tends to destroy life or impair health.
were poisoning
-
past progressiveof poison.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
A bill supporter dressed and speaking like John Lennon said “bloody maniacs” were poisoning the atmosphere.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025
Reinking wrote in his journal and told psychologists who examined him that he believed people in the Waffle House were poisoning his food and repeating things that he had written in his private journal.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 3, 2022
Blackley thought toxins in pollen were poisoning people.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2014
The effort was tremendously successful in reducing sulfur dioxide emissions that were poisoning lakes and streams, contaminating soils and accelerating the decay of buildings, at a cost lower than even its advocates anticipated.
From New York Times ● Aug. 10, 2013
He complains that many people thought him ungrateful and disloyal to his friend, and that stories circulated to his disadvantage, as if he were poisoning the Queen's ear against Essex.
From Bacon by John Morley
