as in poisonous
containing or contaminated with a substance capable of injuring or killing a living thing
certain plants are toxic if eaten
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in poison
a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing
tested for toxics in the water supply
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of toxic
Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Feb. 2025
In this case, companies are eliminating information and rhetoric that has become politically toxic.
—Maria Aspan, NPR, 7 Feb. 2025
Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024
But scientists and environmentalists note forever chemicals and other toxics can persist in the fluid.
—Janet Wilson, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for toxic 
Adjective
But there’s a timely chill to its slowly spiraling demonstration of how easily communities can thrill to any man brazen enough to declare himself closer to God than others, and toxic enough to reap the benefits of that trust for himself alone.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Feb. 2025
In this case, companies are eliminating information and rhetoric that has become politically toxic.
—Maria Aspan, NPR, 7 Feb. 2025
Noun
Many are similar to existing antibiotics or toxic to humans.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024
But scientists and environmentalists note forever chemicals and other toxics can persist in the fluid.
—Janet Wilson, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for toxic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toxic
Adjective
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Perhaps even more interestingly, the bark and leaves of the Sambucus nigra are considered poisonous; the berries themselves must be cooked before consuming.—
Jeanne Ballion,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2025
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There is poisonous and lame political commentary all around us, and then there’s the work of Joy Reid.—
Rich Lowry,
National Review,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Cleveland doctors would soon find a deadly dose of the same poison in her sister’s stomach.—
Mara Bovsun,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2025
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Their days are taken up with shooting practice, lobster racing, pelting men with fruit, and slipping poison into unattended cups of tea—and best of all, there isn’t a damsel in distress in sight.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Show creator Samantha Strauss said the character of Lucy was important to depict what a lot of people feel when fighting a disease: not listened to, not in control and not acknowledged as a full person.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN,
16 Feb. 2025
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Leukemia, a disease of the blood and bone marrow, disrupts the body's ability to produce normal blood cells.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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During the confirmation hearings, many senators expressed interest in efforts to address toxins and chronic health issues.—
Claire Bugos,
Verywell Health,
13 Feb. 2025
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The reason whooping cough can bring on such a gnarly, well, cough in the first place is because of how B. pertussis wreaks havoc: These bugs latch on to the cilia (a.k.a. tiny hairlike protrusions) on cells in your respiratory tract and ooze toxins, triggering inflammation and swelling.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
13 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near toxic
Cite this Entry
“Toxic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toxic. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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