Nearby Words
adjective
1.
actively poisonous; intensely noxious: a virulent insect bite.
2.
Medicine/Medical. highly infective; malignant or deadly.
3.
Bacteriology. causing clinical symptoms.
4.
violently or spitefully hostile.
5.
intensely bitter, spiteful, or malicious: a virulent attack.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English verulent < Latin vīrulentus, equivalent to vīr(us) poison (see virus) + -ulentus -ulent
1350–1400; Middle English verulent < Latin vīrulentus, equivalent to vīr(us) poison (see virus) + -ulentus -ulent
Related forms
vir·u·lent·ly, adverb
hy·per·vir·u·lent, adjective
hy·per·vir·u·lent·ly, adverb
non·vir·u·lent, adjective
non·vir·u·lent·ly, adverb
EXPANDsu·per·vir·u·lent, adjective
su·per·vir·u·lent·ly, adverb
un·vir·u·lent, adjective
un·vir·u·lent·ly, adverb
COLLAPSESynonyms
1. venomous. 5. vicious, acerbic.
1. venomous. 5. vicious, acerbic.
Antonyms
1. harmless.
1. harmless.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Virulent
is an SAT word you need to know.
So is vitriolic. Does it mean:
| very caustic or scathing; a hostile approach |
| composition that imitates or misrepresents someone's style |
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
virulent
1400, in ref. to wounds, ulcers, etc., "full of corrupt or poisonous matter," from L. virulentus "poisonous," from virus "poison" (see virus). Fig. sense of "violent, spiteful" is attested from 1607.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
virulent vir·u·lent (vēr'yə-lənt, vēr'ə-)
adj.
Extremely infectious, malignant, or poisonous. Used of a disease or toxin.
Capable of causing disease by breaking down protective mechanisms of the host. Used of a pathogen.
Intensely irritating, obnoxious, or harsh.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
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