poison
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for poison, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A substance that can injure or kill a living thing if it enters the body.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use poison
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French poison, from Latin potio, "a drink" — originally just meant "a drink" or "potion" before narrowing to mean a harmful one.
Full origin of poison →Frequently asked questions
What does “poison” mean?
The word “poison” means a substance that can injure or kill a living thing if it enters the body. In plain terms, something that harms or kills if taken in, or figuratively something that damages a situation or relationship.
How do you pronounce “poison”?
“Poison” is pronounced POY-zuhn (/ˈpɔɪ.zən/ in IPA).
How do you use “poison” in a sentence?
Here is “poison” used in a sentence: “The farmer kept the rat poison locked away from the children.”
What part of speech is “poison”?
Depending on how it is used, “poison” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “poison” come from?
The word “poison” comes from Latin. From Old French poison, from Latin potio, "a drink" — originally just meant "a drink" or "potion" before narrowing to mean a harmful one.
Is “poison” a common word?
“Poison” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “poison” have?
“Poison” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a substance that can injure or kill a living thing if it enters the body.
What is the difference between poison and venom?
A poison is a substance that injures or kills when it is swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed — it harms once it enters the body. Venom is delivered actively by a bite or sting, as with snakes, bees, and scorpions. That is why mushrooms are described as poisonous while cobras are described as venomous.
What is the difference between a poison and a toxin?
A toxin is a poison produced by a living organism, such as bacteria, plants, or animals. Poison is the broader word for any substance that can injure or kill a living thing if it enters the body, whether natural or man-made.
Can poison describe things other than substances?
Yes. Poison is commonly used for anything that causes serious harm to a relationship, situation, or reputation, as in "jealousy is poison to a marriage." As a verb it carries the same figurative force: to poison a friendship is to corrupt it or to turn people against one another.