How to Use poison oak in a Sentence

poison oak

noun
Definition of poison oaknext
  • The best way to deal with poison oak is to avoid getting it in the first place.
    — Justin Ray, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2021
  • Keep an eye out for poison oak, which lines parts of the trail here.
    — Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2024
  • The acreage is largely given over to fir trees and poison oak.
    — Lizzie Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Jan. 2018
  • Watch for poison oak, swift rapids, slick rock, and burning sun.
    — Chris Van Leuven, Outside Online, 19 Oct. 2022
  • Its sparse plant life consists of scraggly shrubs and pines, along with thickets of poison oak.
    — Heather Knight, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2023
  • The worst hazard for a person on the hunt for the Hyperion might be a bad case of poison oak.
    — Gale Holland, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2022
  • Her body was found about a mile away after a three-day search through the rugged blackberry bushes and poison oak that choke the walls of the steep, rugged canyon.
    — Ryan Sabalow, sacbee, 19 Dec. 2017
  • The area is also home to black bears, rattlesnakes, and poison oak, in addition to the more friendly deer and otters.
    — Sunset, 22 Jan. 2018
  • On trails, runners are being good about standing aside to let others pass but may pay the price with poison oak.
    — Ann Killion, SFChronicle.com, 2 Apr. 2020
  • Smoke from fires that burn through poison oak and poison ivy may contain traces of irritants from those plants.
    — Eva Frederick, Science | AAAS, 14 Feb. 2020
  • This sap, which is also found in poison oak and poison sumac, is called urushiol and can cause a severe rash that lingers for weeks.
    — Rachel Nall, Msn, SELF, 15 July 2022
  • Hardeman sprayed Roundup on weeds at his home in Gualala and later on poison oak at his 56-acre property in Santa Rosa.
    — Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Nov. 2021
  • It’s blackberry season in the country, and the poison oak turns from an oily green to bright red, so that nasty plant is almost beautiful.
    — Carl Nolte, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Sep. 2021
  • Hardeman, now 72, sprayed Roundup on weeds at his home in Gualala and later on poison oak at his 56-acre property in Santa Rosa.
    — Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 May 2021
  • Volatile weather and run-ins with wildlife and plants, such as rattlesnakes, mountain lions and poison oak, are just some of the elements that can derail a trip.
    — Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2024
  • Going off trail in the grasslands not only disturbs the homes of wildlife but also puts visitors at risk for snake bites, ticks and poison oak.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2021
  • From being on the watch for rattlesnakes and mountain lions, to numerous bouts with poison oak, Garza has had a lot to learn about rural life.
    — Samantha Nobles-Block, SFChronicle.com, 22 Dec. 2020
  • There are posted warnings at the site for everything from rattlesnakes to poison oak, but nothing about the shootings.
    — Carter Evans, CBS News, 29 June 2018
  • The urushiol oil that causes poison sumac rash is also found in poison ivy and poison oak.
    — Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 3 July 2024
  • Along with the great blue heron perched regally on a branch, there were possibly leeches in that water, not to mention poison oak lining the banks.
    — Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2022
  • What is the difference between poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak?
    — Everyday Einstein Sabrina Stierwalt, Scientific American, 26 Jan. 2020
  • The three-leaf warning also applies to poison oak, which also grows both as a leafy shrub and as a climbing vine and produces three leaflets with scalloped or toothed edges.
    — Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 29 July 2023
  • Poison hemlock typically isn't poisonous to the touch, like species such as poison ivy and poison oak.
    — Marina Johnson, Detroit Free Press, 10 Aug. 2023
  • Teach them to recognize poison oak and stinging nettle.
    — Sara Okeefe, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2024
  • While the sheep excel at mowing grass, the goats are experts at trimming lower tree branches and thinning poison oak, coyote brush and brambles.
    — Tara Duggan, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 July 2021
  • Indigenous people made an herbal tea from its leaves and berries to treat poison oak rash, bronchitis, and stomach and kidney ailments.
    — Brian E. Clark, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2021
  • Poison Sumac Poison sumac is similar to poison ivy and poison oak in terms of having the poisonous oily resin called urushiol.
    — Chandra Fleming, Detroit Free Press, 15 Mar. 2023
  • While in California, police said Collins was treated for poison oak.
    — Freep.com, 10 Nov. 2019
  • During the trial, a former student who is now 27 years old testified that Raines applied an ointment to a poison oak rash on his genital area.
    — Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2024
  • There are the unlikely megahazards—mountain lions and bears—but also a whole host of lesser dangers that can ruin a hike: cactus spines, poison oak, and skunks.
    — Sunset Magazine, 29 Sep. 2020

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'poison oak.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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