as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
the virulent look on her face warned me that she was about to say something unkind
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of virulent
Salvini has directed his most virulent language, however, toward the tens of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers, mostly from Africa, who attempt to reach Italy via the Mediterranean Sea.
—
Ronald Niezen, The Conversation, 29 Jan. 2025
Indeed, in early January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said none of the vaccines available on the market matched the current virulent strain found in the most recent outbreak.
—Julie Creswell, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
No vaccine has yet emerged that perfectly matches the current virulent strain, according to the USDA.
—Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Jan. 2025
But the notion that Americans must accept a little terrorism and virulent Jew hatred along with their charitable works imposes a false choice on American taxpayers.
—The Editors, National Review, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for virulent 
Ronald Niezen, The Conversation, 29 Jan. 2025
Indeed, in early January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said none of the vaccines available on the market matched the current virulent strain found in the most recent outbreak.
—Julie Creswell, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
No vaccine has yet emerged that perfectly matches the current virulent strain, according to the USDA.
—Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Jan. 2025
But the notion that Americans must accept a little terrorism and virulent Jew hatred along with their charitable works imposes a false choice on American taxpayers.
—The Editors, National Review, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for virulent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for virulent
Adjective
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The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
15 Feb. 2025
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Maloof is suing the city of Palm Bay, the Palm Bay Police Department and the officer on claims including malicious prosecution and false arrest.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Nashville's Bad Idea is a wine bar and restaurant set in a former Presbyterian church that fell into disrepair after a vicious tornado.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
13 Feb. 2025
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By the time Hezbollah launched its bombardment of Israel in solidarity with Hamas' vicious attack on Israel, the militant Lebanese organization had managed to build a significant military capability under the nose of UNFIL and was more robust than ever before.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Immigrant advocates call those moves cruel and unnecessary.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
8 Feb. 2025
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The current government’s purposeful misrepresentation and defamation of DEI in such a comprehensively cruel and malicious manner deserves nothing less than personal and communal outrage and resistance.—
Dr. Tony Lux,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The two central characters, a mild bespectacled middle-school geek named Hal and his hateful abusive bully of a twin brother, Bill (both are played by Christian Convery), discover the monkey sealed away in a round box.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
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Indeed, Ye advertised his Yeezy website during the 2025 Super Bowl broadcast Sunday (Feb. 9), which aired amid a days-long storm of hateful tweets from the star targeting Jewish people.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Eagles edge rusher Josh Sweat had the splashiest individual stat line with 2.5 sacks, but a crew of nasty defensive tackles wrought devastation versus the run and the pass.—
Tim Graham,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
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What follows is a twisted game of house where familiar familial relationships crumble and new ones take root like nasty black weeds.—
M.L. Rio,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near virulent
Cite this Entry
“Virulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virulent. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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