as in severity
biting sharpness of feeling or expression
I was surprised by the virulence of the criticism
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Recent Examples of virulence
When a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out.
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Leo Barraclough, Variety, 1 Oct. 2024
Those cases have decreased significantly in the U.S. The current strain, called clade 1b, is worrisome because of its virulence.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 5 Aug. 2024
In Earth Abides, when a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 25 June 2024
The virus may also be growing weaker in virulence but more infectious over time.
—T. Jacob John, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2020
See all Example Sentences for virulence 
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 1 Oct. 2024
Those cases have decreased significantly in the U.S. The current strain, called clade 1b, is worrisome because of its virulence.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 5 Aug. 2024
In Earth Abides, when a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 25 June 2024
The virus may also be growing weaker in virulence but more infectious over time.
—T. Jacob John, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2020
See all Example Sentences for virulence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virulence
Noun
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Depending on the severity of the symptoms, your primary care doctor can refer you to a gastroenterologist or a colorectal surgeon for a closer look.CNN.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
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An official cause for the emergency has yet to be disclosed, though Foxx has alluded to the severity of his condition in the months since.Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Did the hostility between Administration and newspaper come back to haunt Nixon?John Tamny, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
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All Greeks were guaranteed safe passage traveling to or from the contests (though the popular idea that all inter-state hostilities ceased may be a myth).Miriam Kamil, JSTOR Daily, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
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His son was indicted separately on 55 counts, including four counts of malice murder and four counts of felony murder, in the Sept. 4 shooting at the Winder high school.Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 21 Nov. 2024
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Simon was on 19 charges last month, including malice murder, felony murder, concealing the death of another, false report of a crime and making a false statement.Jenna Sundel, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Extra body weight can increase cholesterol levels in bile and lead to gallstone formation.Lindsay Curtis, Health, 28 Nov. 2024
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Trump’s vitriolic bile claiming Kamala Harris will destroy Israel is absolutely indefensible on several levels.Michael Isaacson, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near virulence
Cite this Entry
“Virulence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virulence. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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