poisonous
Harmful if swallowed
Poisonous describes something containing or producing poison—a substance that causes illness or death when introduced into the body.
A poisonous snake or mushroom is dangerous to eat or be bitten by.
Figuratively, poisonous applies to anything harmful or malicious: a poisonous atmosphere, poisonous rhetoric, a poisonous relationship.
Distinguished from venomous, which technically applies to creatures that inject toxins through bites or stings, though the words often overlap in casual use.
Injected animal poison
- arsenicToxic metalloid element
- cyanideToxic carbon-nitrogen compound
- strychnineHighly toxic plant alkaloid
- hemlockPoisonous umbellifer or conifer
ricin · belladonna · nightshade · oleander · foxglove · monkshood · death cap · amanita
Capable of causing harm
- maliciousMeaning to do harm
- spitefulWanting to hurt others
- vindictiveSeeking harm from resentment
- malevolentHarboring ill will
hostile · bitter · nasty · hateful · vicious · harmful · destructive · corrosive
Made impure by contaminants
- taintedContaminated, made impure
- contaminatedMade impure by contact
- adulteratedDiluted with inferior substances
- infectedInvaded by pathogens
impure · hazardous · unsafe · carcinogenic · radioactive · biohazard · effluent · sewage
Poison attacking neural tissue
- hemotoxinSubstance destroying blood cells
- cytotoxinAgent destroying cells
- cardiotoxinAgent harming cardiac tissue
- antivenomSerum countering toxic bites
venom gland · fangs · bite · sting · inject · glands · toxicity · lethal dose
Limbless scaled reptile
- spiderWeb-spinning arachnid
- scorpionStinging arachnid with pincers
- viperFanged toxic serpent
- cobraHooded venomous serpent
rattlesnake · mamba · adder · copperhead · coral snake · black widow · brown recluse · tarantula
venom
Injected animal poison
- arsenicToxic metalloid element
- cyanideToxic carbon-nitrogen compound
- strychnineHighly toxic plant alkaloid
hemlock · ricin · belladonna · nightshade · oleander · foxglove · monkshood · death cap · amanita · mercury
toxic
Capable of causing harm
- maliciousMeaning to do harm
- spitefulWanting to hurt others
- vindictiveSeeking harm from resentment
malevolent · hostile · bitter · nasty · hateful · vicious · harmful · destructive · corrosive · insidious
polluted
Made impure by contaminants
- taintedContaminated, made impure
- contaminatedMade impure by contact
- adulteratedDiluted with inferior substances
infected · impure · hazardous · unsafe · carcinogenic · radioactive · biohazard · effluent · sewage · pathogen
neurotoxin
Poison attacking neural tissue
- hemotoxinSubstance destroying blood cells
- cytotoxinAgent destroying cells
- cardiotoxinAgent harming cardiac tissue
antivenom · venom gland · fangs · bite · sting · inject · glands · toxicity · lethal dose · paralysis
snake
Limbless scaled reptile
cobra · rattlesnake · mamba · adder · copperhead · coral snake · black widow · brown recluse · tarantula · centipede
- mushroom foragingmorel, chanterelle, porcini, bolete, truffle
- plant traitsthorny, spiny, evergreen, deciduous, flowering
- toxicity levelstoxic, nontoxic, lethal, safe, hazardous
- biology termscell, DNA, genetics, genetic, evolution
- atmospheresmisty, hazy, foggy, smoky, humid
- fungimushroom, mushrooms, toadstool, toadstools, yeast
poisonousharmless
Causing no injury
nontoxic · nonpoisonous · non-toxic · innocuous · benign
poisonoushealing
Restoration of health
curative · medicinal · therapeutic · healthful · nourishing
poisonousedible
Safe to consume
wholesome · nourishing · nutritious · eatable · comestible
- poisonous reptilesScaled animals bearing toxins
- poisonous plantsFlora harmful if ingested
- not poisonousLacking harmful substances
- poisonous substanceAgent causing harm internally
- poisonous fungiHarmful mushroom species
- poisonous compoundHarmful chemical substance