virulence
noun
vir·u·lence
ˈvir-ə-lən(t)s 
ˈvir-yə-
ˈvir-yə-
: the quality or state of being virulent: such as
a
: extreme bitterness or malevolence : rancor
the virulence of their hatred
She said the rising virulence of the rhetoric against Muslims has flooded her with sadness, grief, alienation and fear.—
Laura DaSilva
Laura DaSilvaBut the virulence of the campaign, on both sides … provides a clue to the deeper forces at work: the polarizing of politics in a traditionally moderate place.—The Economist
The Economist
b
: the relative capacity of a pathogen (such as a bacterium or virus) to overcome a host's defenses and cause disease or damage : the degree of pathogenicity of a causative agent of disease
a bacterial strain of low virulence
the virulence of a novel virus
also
: the ability to overcome a host's defenses and cause disease or damage : the state of being pathogenic
With its newly acquired virulence, this otherwise mild-mannered avian influenza virus went wild. —Rick Weiss
Rick Weiss
c
: relative severity or malignancy
Breast cancer is as diverse as the breast itself, appearing in many different guises. Some cancers seem to erupt out of ordinary breast issue with an awesome virulence, spreading rapidly throughout the body.—David Plotkin
David PlotkinSynonyms
Examples of virulence in a Sentence
I was surprised by the virulence of the criticism.
Recent Examples on the Web
Still others are investigating viruses that attack Bd and eventually might be used to reduce its virulence.
—Martin J. Kernan, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2024
Assuming the contagiousness and virulence of Neolithic diseases increased through time, dense settlements such as Çatalhöyük may have reached a tipping point where the effects of disease outweighed the benefits of living closely together.
—R. Alexander Bentley, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024
Scientists emphasized that this hasn’t been linked to virulence or rapid transmission.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 4 Oct. 2024
When a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for virulence 
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Martin J. Kernan, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2024
Assuming the contagiousness and virulence of Neolithic diseases increased through time, dense settlements such as Çatalhöyük may have reached a tipping point where the effects of disease outweighed the benefits of living closely together.
—R. Alexander Bentley, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024
Scientists emphasized that this hasn’t been linked to virulence or rapid transmission.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 4 Oct. 2024
When a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for virulence
Dictionary Entries Near virulence
Cite this Entry
“Virulence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/virulence. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
virulence
noun
vir·u·lence
ˈvir-(y)ə-lən(t)s
: the quality or state of being virulent
Medical Definition
virulence
noun
vir·u·lence
ˈvir-(y)ə-lən(t)s
: the quality or state of being virulent: as
a
: the relative capacity of a pathogen (as a bacterium or virus) to overcome a host's defenses and cause disease or damage : the degree of pathogenicity of a causative agent of disease
a bacterial strain of low virulence
attempted to determine the virulence of the newly identified virus
also
: the ability to overcome a host's defenses and cause disease or damage : the state of being pathogenic
With its newly acquired virulence, this otherwise mild-mannered avian influenza virus went wild. —Rick Weiss
Rick Weiss
b
: relative severity or malignancy
ameliorate the virulence of a disease
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