virulent
Virulent (adj) means Extremely infectious or harmful, said of a disease or pathogen. Example: “A particularly virulent strain of the flu swept through the school.”
How to use virulent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither extremely dangerous or infectious (a disease), or extremely hostile and bitter (an attack or criticism).
Word forms
more virulent comparative, most virulent superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A particularly _____ strain of the flu swept through the school.
Etymology
From Latin virulentus, "full of poison," from virus ("poison").
Rhymes for virulent
See all rhymes for virulent →Frequently asked questions
What does “virulent” mean?
The word “virulent” means extremely infectious or harmful, said of a disease or pathogen. In plain terms, either extremely dangerous or infectious (a disease), or extremely hostile and bitter (an attack or criticism).
How do you pronounce “virulent”?
“Virulent” is pronounced VIH-ruulnt (/ˈvɪɹ(j)ələnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “virulent” in a sentence?
Here is “virulent” used in a sentence: “A particularly virulent strain of the flu swept through the school.”
What part of speech is “virulent”?
“Virulent” is an adjective.
Where does the word “virulent” come from?
The word “virulent” comes from Latin. From Latin virulentus, "full of poison," from virus ("poison").
How many meanings does “virulent” have?
“Virulent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely infectious or harmful, said of a disease or pathogen.