poisonous

adjective

POY-zuh-nuhs/ˈpɔɪzənəs/

3 meanings of poisonous

1
adjective
Able to harm or kill you if you touch it or eat it.
Like food that has gone bad: eating it can make you very sick.
Some wild mushrooms are poisonous, so never eat them.
The berries on that bush are poisonous to children.
Similartoxic, venomous, poisoned
Oppositenontoxic, harmless, edible
Note
2
adjective
Able to make poison and put it into another animal by biting or stinging.
Like a tiny needle that pushes harmful liquid into your body.
A poisonous snake bit the dog on its leg.
Be careful. Some spiders are poisonous and their bite hurts.
Similarvenomous
Oppositenonvenomous, harmless
Note
3
adjectivefiguratively
Very harmful to people's feelings, health, or relationships.
Like one rotten apple that spoils all the others in the basket.
Their constant fighting created a poisonous mood at home.
Spreading lies about coworkers makes the whole workplace poisonous.
Similartoxic
Oppositehealthy, wholesome

Practice

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Origin

From Middle English poisounous. It comes from the word poison plus the ending -ous.