arsenic
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for arsenic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A toxic grey chemical element, long associated with poisoning.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use arsenic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Greek arsenikon ("yellow orpiment"), itself borrowed from an older Middle Eastern word for a golden mineral — later linked by folk-etymology to Greek arsenikos, "male" or "potent."
Full origin of arsenic →Frequently asked questions
What does “arsenic” mean?
The word “arsenic” means a toxic grey chemical element, long associated with poisoning. In plain terms, a poisonous metallic element, historically infamous as a murder weapon.
How do you pronounce “arsenic”?
“Arsenic” is pronounced AH-suh-nihk (/ˈɑɹsənɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “arsenic” in a sentence?
Here is “arsenic” used in a sentence: “Traces of arsenic were found in the old well water.”
What part of speech is “arsenic”?
Depending on how it is used, “arsenic” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “arsenic” come from?
The word “arsenic” comes from Greek. From Greek arsenikon ("yellow orpiment"), itself borrowed from an older Middle Eastern word for a golden mineral — later linked by folk-etymology to Greek arsenikos, "male" or "potent.".
Is “arsenic” a common word?
“Arsenic” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “arsenic” have?
“Arsenic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a toxic grey chemical element, long associated with poisoning.