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toxic

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noun

as in poison
a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing tested for toxics in the water supply

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of toxic
Adjective
Curt Stanley, an air traffic controller fighting the fire, said that two helicopters were initially able to fight the fire near the chlorine leak but eventually had to withdraw due to safety concerns for pilots who could breathe toxic fumes. Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 14 July 2025 Poison hemlock, a highly toxic plant that can cause symptoms including vomiting, seizures and respiratory failure if ingested. Sacbee.com, 14 July 2025
Noun
The more stringent standards effectively limit emissions of other toxics, including benzene, lead and arsenic. Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025 The toxics killed fish and wildlife, closed beaches, and endangered environmentally sensitive areas. Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for toxic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toxic
Adjective
  • Almost every state has a variety of snake species, both poisonous and nonvenomous.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 11 July 2025
  • This Kidde portable carbon monoxide detector uses batteries and is compact enough to slip into your carry-on, giving you peace of mind that your hotel room or Airbnb is free of poisonous levels of carbon monoxide.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • Just to name a few of the problems: gravity is too low, the radiation is too high, there’s no air, and the dirt is made of poison.
    Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2025
  • These poisons can vaporize on hot days and be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or even swallowed by children playing on synthetic fields.
    Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, New York Daily News, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • Ten major warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease include memory loss, apathy, confusion about time or place, poor judgment, and difficulty with planning or organizing.
    Esther Heerema, Verywell Health, 22 July 2025
  • In addition to providing protection for individuals, the DHS website says that widespread vaccination means that diseases have less opportunity to spread.
    Andrew Montequin, jsonline.com, 22 July 2025
Noun
  • Although most blooms are green algae and not harmful, there are some that are actually a type of cyanobacteria that have the ability to produce toxins – called harmful algal blooms (HABs).
    Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
  • Here are Kaufman's picks for the best, liver-friendly foods: Blueberries Kaufman recommends including a variety of foods filled with antioxidants into your diet to help cleanse the liver and decrease toxins.
    Audrey Noble, Vogue, 21 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Toxic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toxic. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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