noun
Uncommon
venom
VEH-nuhm
Venom (noun) means a poisonous substance produced by an animal, such as a snake or scorpion, and delivered through a bite or sting to attack prey or defend itself. Example: “The snake's venom can cause paralysis within minutes.”
noun
1
A poisonous substance produced by an animal, such as a snake or scorpion, and delivered through a bite or sting to attack prey or defend itself.
"The snake's venom can cause paralysis within minutes."
2
Speech or feeling full of spite and bitterness.
"The attack was so unwarranted and delivered with such venom that his unpreparedness for it left him speechless."
— James Workman, The Mad Emperor (1966)
"History is a study which has none of the venom of reality in it."
— Lawrence Durrell, The Black Book (1938)
"Some of these reviews were written in joyous zeal. Others with glee. Some in sorrow, some in anger, and a precious few with venom, of which I have a closely guarded supply."
— Roger Ebert, Your Movie Sucks (2007)
"She spat the words out with real venom."
How to use venom
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA poison an animal injects to attack or defend itself, or figuratively, bitter and hateful speech.
Common mistake
Venom and poison aren't quite the same: venom is injected (bites, stings), while poison usually works if swallowed, absorbed, or inhaled.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
snake venom
spit venom
inject venom
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Word forms
- Plural
- venoms
- Third person singular
- venoms
- Past tense
- venomed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The snake's _____ can cause paralysis within minutes.
Etymology
From Old French venim, from Vulgar Latin *venīmen, ultimately from Latin venēnum ("poison, drug, charm").
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “venom” mean?
The word “venom” means a poisonous substance produced by an animal, such as a snake or scorpion, and delivered through a bite or sting to attack prey or defend itself. In plain terms, a poison an animal injects to attack or defend itself, or figuratively, bitter and hateful speech.
How do you pronounce “venom”?
“Venom” is pronounced VEH-nuhm (/ˈvɛnəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “venom” in a sentence?
Here is “venom” used in a sentence: “The snake's venom can cause paralysis within minutes.”
What part of speech is “venom”?
“Venom” is a noun.
Where does the word “venom” come from?
The word “venom” comes from Vulgar Latin. From Old French venim, from Vulgar Latin *venīmen, ultimately from Latin venēnum ("poison, drug, charm").
Is “venom” a common word?
“Venom” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “venom” have?
“Venom” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a poisonous substance produced by an animal, such as a snake or scorpion, and delivered through a bite or sting to attack prey or defend itself.
What is the difference between venom and poison?
Venom is a poisonous substance produced by an animal, such as a snake or scorpion, and delivered through a bite or sting, whereas poison is a broader term for any harmful substance, including ones that cause harm simply by being touched or swallowed. All venom is a type of poison, but not all poison is venom.
What does it mean to say someone "spits venom"?
This figurative use of venom describes speech or feeling full of spite and bitterness, such as harsh, hateful words directed at someone. It compares cutting, malicious speech to the harmful bite of a venomous animal.
How is venom delivered by animals?
Venomous animals, like snakes and scorpions, deliver venom through a bite or sting, injecting it directly into prey or an attacker to subdue or defend against them.
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