toxify
Render something harmful
Toxify means to make something toxic or poisonous, either literally or figuratively.
In scientific contexts, it describes processes that introduce harmful substances into an environment or organism.
More commonly, toxify appears in discussions of relationships, workplaces, or online spaces that have become hostile or harmful: Social media can toxify public discourse.
The word is a back-formation from toxic, following the pattern of words like purify and clarify.
Make impure harmfully
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- effluentDischarged liquid waste
- runoffExcess water drainage
- contaminateMake unclean or unsafe
leach · bioaccumulate · smog · acid rain · industrial waste · sewage · particulates · heavy metals
Make impure
- corruptDishonest, open to bribes
- polluteMake impure harmfully
- poisonHarmful ingested substance
- defileTo violate sanctity
adulterate · foul · spoil · degrade · infect · impair · blight · vitiate
Harmful ingested substance
- venomInjected animal poison
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- noxiousHarmful, especially when inhaled
- corrosiveDestroys by chemical action
neurotoxin · mutagenic · lethal dose · hazmat · reactive · caustic · exposure · concentration
Split into opposition
- radicalizeConvert to extreme ideology
- inflameIntensify emotion or irritation
- embitterCause deep resentment
- antagonizeIncite hostility in
hostile · divisive · troll · harassment · cyberbullying · discourse · rhetoric · cancel
pollute
Make impure harmfully
contaminate · leach · bioaccumulate · smog · acid rain · industrial waste · sewage · particulates · heavy metals · pesticides
taint
Make impure
defile · adulterate · foul · spoil · degrade · infect · impair · blight · vitiate · permeate
poison
Harmful ingested substance
- venomInjected animal poison
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- noxiousHarmful, especially when inhaled
corrosive · neurotoxin · mutagenic · lethal dose · hazmat · reactive · caustic · exposure · concentration · biomarker
polarize
Split into opposition
- radicalizeConvert to extreme ideology
- inflameIntensify emotion or irritation
- embitterCause deep resentment
antagonize · hostile · divisive · troll · harassment · cyberbullying · discourse · rhetoric · cancel · brigade
toxifydetoxify
Remove poisonous substances
purify · cleanse · decontaminate · depollute · neutralize
- toxic wasteDangerous industrial refuse
- toxic relationshipsBonds causing emotional harm
- lead toxicityPoisoning from element 82
- toxic fumesHarmful airborne vapors
- toxic gasHarmful airborne substance
- toxic chemicalsHarmful manufactured substances
toxic, toxin, nontoxic, intoxicating, intoxicate, intoxication, toxicity, detoxify, intoxicant