venomous

Adjective

venomous (comparative more venomous, superlative most venomous)

1. Of an animal (specifically a snake) or parts of its body: producing venom (“a toxin intended for defensive or offensive use”) which is usually injected into an enemy or prey by biting or stinging; hence, of a bite or sting: injecting venom.
   • Do venomous spiders have glands?
   • For that beaſtes teeth, vvhich vvounded you tofore, / Are ſo exceeding venemous and keene, / Made all of ruſty yron, ranckling ſore, / That vvhen they bite, it booteth not to vveene / VVith ſalue, or antidote, or other mene / It euer to amend: […]1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 9, page 425

   Synonyms:

   venenous

   Antonyms:

   non-venomous, venomless, unvenomous

2. Of or pertaining to venom.
   • [A]s the teeth [of the salamander] are thus incapable of offending, the people of the countries vvhere they are found have recourſe to a venomous ſlaver, vvhich, they ſuppoſe, iſſues from the animal's mouth; they alſo tell us of a venom iſſuing from the clavvs: […]1791, Oliver Goldsmith, “Of the Salamander”, in An History of the Earth, and Animated Nature. […], new edition, volume VII, London: […] F[rancis] Wingrave, successor to Mr. [John] Nourse, […], →OCLC...
   • [T]he glands [of a snake] that ſerve to fabricate this venomous fluid are ſituated on each ſide of the head behind the eyes, and have their canals leading from thence to the bottom of the fangs in the upper javv, vvhere they empty into a kind of bladder, from vvhence the fangs on each ſide are ſeen...1791, Oliver Goldsmith, “Of Venomous Serpents in General”, in An History of the Earth, and Animated Nature. […], new edition, volume VII, London: […] F[rancis] Wingrave, successor to Mr. [John]...
3. (archaic) Consisting of, or containing or full of, venom or some other poison; hence, harmful to health due to this.
   • The villain tricked him into drinking the venomous concoction.
   • [Edward I of England was] by a certaine Moore vvounded vvith an envenomed ſvvord, and by all the remedies that Phiſitians could deviſe vvas not ſo much eaſed as afflicted: […] ſhe [Eleanor of Castile] day by day licked vvith her tongue, and ſucked out the venemous humor vvhich to her vvas a moſt...1610, William Camden, “Midle-sex”, in Philémon Holland, transl., Britain, or A Chorographicall Description of the Most Flourishing Kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland, […], London: […] [Eliot’s...
4. (figuratively) Posing a threat; dangerous, threatening.
   • Arsenal pressed forward again after half-time but other than a venomous [Theo] Walcott shot that [Tim] Howard repelled with a fine one-handed save, the hosts offered little cutting edge.2011 December 10, David Ornstein, “Arsenal 1 – 0 Everton”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 30 Apr 2023
   • Palace's number nine passed into [Eberechi] Eze, who let the ball roll across to him to fool Leander Dendoncker before he unleashed a venomous strike past Rui Patricio from 16 yards.2021 January 30, George Sessions, “Eberechi Eze seals victory for Crystal Palace to extend Wolves' dismal winless run”, in The Independent, London: Independent News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived...
5. (figuratively) Hateful; malignant; spiteful.
   • His attitude toward me is utterly venomous.
   • More venemous and much more virulent / Then any poyſoned tode, or any ſerpent.c. 1515–1516 (date written; published 1568), John Skelton, “Against Venemous Tongues Enpoysoned with Sclaunder and False Detractions, &c.”, in Alexander Dyce, editor, The Poetical Works of John...

   Synonyms:

   embittered, envenomed, poisonous, rancorous, toxic, virulent

6. (obsolete) Of a weapon such as an arrow or dart: dosed with venom or poison; envenomed, poisoned.
7. (figuratively, obsolete) Harmful, hurtful, injurious; specifically, morally or spiritually harmful; evil, noxious, pernicious.
   • […] I vvill at large proue, that ther is nothinge in loue more venemous then méeting, vvhich filleth the minde with griefe, and the body vvith diſeaſes: […]1580, Iohn Lyly [i.e., John Lyly], Euphues and His England. […], London: […] [Thomas East] for Gabriell Cawood, […], →OCLC, folio 99, verso
   • Thy teares are ſalter than a yonger mans, / And venomous to thine eyes.c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...