as in severity
biting sharpness of feeling or expression
I was surprised by the virulence of the criticism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 virulence
The scale score measures the virulence of cancerous cells and tissues in the body, with a higher score meaning the cancer is more likely to spread quickly, as Biden’s has already done.
—
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 May 2025
In Canada, modest supply management policies keep farmgate and farmer pay prices higher, while disincentivizing the buildout of fast-paced, crowded and large scale production facilities at the heart of avian flu virulence.
—Errol Schweizer, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Everything about the movement surprised political observers: its virulence, its magnitude, its provincial origins, its apparent lack of structure and leadership, and its adamant refusal to be co-opted by existing political parties and unions.
—Arthur Goldhammer, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2018
An ePPP is a pathogen that has been modified to enhance its transmissibility and virulence.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for virulence
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 May 2025
In Canada, modest supply management policies keep farmgate and farmer pay prices higher, while disincentivizing the buildout of fast-paced, crowded and large scale production facilities at the heart of avian flu virulence.
—Errol Schweizer, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Everything about the movement surprised political observers: its virulence, its magnitude, its provincial origins, its apparent lack of structure and leadership, and its adamant refusal to be co-opted by existing political parties and unions.
—Arthur Goldhammer, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2018
An ePPP is a pathogen that has been modified to enhance its transmissibility and virulence.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for virulence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virulence
Noun
-
While relapse of multiple myeloma is regarded as inevitable, the timing and severity vary widely.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
14 July 2025
-
But in the meantime, relatives could only guess the severity of the injury by observing the facial expressions of Nuggets personnel.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
In addition, citizenship can be revoked if an individual commits certain actions, including treason, serving in a foreign military engaged in hostilities against the U.S., or renouncing citizenship.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
-
Advertisement Yet Indo-Pak relations haven’t always been defined by hostility alone.—
Sam Dalrymple,
Time,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Global banks aren’t necessarily acting out of malice.—
Wale Ayeni,
semafor.com,
14 July 2025
-
Beneath the inevitable finger-pointing and politicizing, there is often a genuine, even desperate, human impulse to find fault not out of malice, but out of mourning and a desire to find solutions.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
Horgan’s Eva Garvey is funny and nurturing and grounded but also quite lonely and bitter, a character whose love and bile hold Bad Sisters together.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
15 July 2025
-
The gallbladder helps your body store and use bile, a fluid produced by the liver and sent to the gut, where it is needed to digest fat.3 Gallstones block the flow of bile to the gut.—
Sohaib Imtiaz,
Verywell Health,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Virulence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virulence. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share