poison
noun
a substance with an inherent property that tends to destroy life or impair health.
Used to describe an action that will be fully completed or achieved by a specific point in the future.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And even if Casino wins, it will have poisoned the relationship with its co-proprietors and distracted everyone from the task of selling cubed pineapples and imported cheese to affluent Brazilians.
From Economist ● Jun. 30, 2011