virulent Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom
    deadly; venomous.
    • venomous snakes
    • a virulent insect bite
  2. adjective infectious; having the ability to cause disease
  3. adjective satellite harsh or corrosive in tone
    blistering; acerbic; acrid; vitriolic; sulphurous; acerb; sulfurous; caustic; acid; bitter.
    • an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose
    • a barrage of acid comments
    • her acrid remarks make her many enemies
    • bitter words
    • blistering criticism
    • caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics
    • a sulfurous denunciation
    • a vitriolic critique

WordNet

Vir"u*lent adjective
Etymology
L. virulentus, fr. virus poison: cf. F. virulent. See Virus.
Definitions
  1. Extremely poisonous or venomous; very active in doing injury.
    A contagious disorder rendered more virulent by uncleanness. Sir W. Scott.
  2. Very bitter in enmity; actuated by a desire to injure; malignant; as, a virulent invective.

Webster 1913