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   vir·u·lent

   /ˈvir(y)ələnt/

   adjective

   • 1. (of a disease or poison) extremely severe or harmful in its effects: "a virulent strain of influenza" Similar poisonoustoxicvenomousnoxiousdeadlylethalfatalmortalterminaldeath-dealinglife-threateningdangerousharmfulinjuriousperniciousdamagingdestructiveunsafecontaminatingpollutingliterary:deathlynocuousmephiticarchaic:banefulhighly infectioushighly infectivehighly contagiousinfectiousinfectivecontagiousrapidly spreadingcommunicabletransmittabletransmissiblespreadingmalignantuncontrollableperniciouspestilentialsevereextremeviolentdangerousharmfullethallife-threateninginformal:catchingliterary:pestiferousOpposite nontoxicharmlesssafenoncontagious
   • ▪ (of a pathogen, especially a virus) highly infective:
   • 2. bitterly hostile: "his involvement with the temperance movement led to his virulent attack on the drink trade" Similar vitriolicmaliciousmalevolentmalignantmalignevil-intentionedresentfulhostilespitefulvenomousviciousvindictivebitterrancorousacrimoniousmordantastringentincisivecuttingbitingscathingcausticstingingblisteringsearingwitheringabusivemeannastyaggressivesavageharshdevastatinginformal:bitchycattyliterary:maleficmaleficentOpposite amicablebenevolent

   Word Origin late Middle English (originally describing a poisoned wound): from Latin virulentus, from virus ‘poison’ (see virus).

   Derivatives

   • 1. virulently adverb

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • V

     4

   • I

     1

   • R

     1

   • U

     1

   • L

     1

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • T

     1

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