toxins

plural of toxin
as in poisons
a substance that by chemical action can kill or injure a living thing read a pamphlet on the toxin responsible for botulism, a food poisoning that can cause paralysis and even death in some cases

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of toxins Many families say the insurer refused to test their homes for toxins left by smoke. Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 The California State Senate passed a bill Thursday to regulate potential toxins in diapers — a product moms, dads and caregivers may use up to 8,000 times before a child is potty-trained. Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 Plants make toxic compounds, insects figure out ways to store or use those toxins, and the whole arms race plays out over millions of years. Prayan Pokharel, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026 Coffman says reheating doesn’t always make food safe to eat because some bacteria can produce toxins that aren’t destroyed by reheating. Bianca Lambert, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2026 Doctors eventually discovered that Leo’s amino acid levels were at a critical level, so he was put on haemodialysis to help clear his blood of toxins. Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 23 Aug. 2026 However, a cleanse is focused on consuming appropriate healthy foods, minerals and vitamins, while detoxes focus on removing toxins and refreshing the body. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 The nectar might contain some toxins, but the hummers and moths don’t drink enough to be harmed. Joan Morris, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026 These include tenocytes [the primary component of tendons]; the cells that wrap around blood vessels and stabilize the circulatory system; the smooth muscle cells of the colon; and kidney epithelial cells, which filter toxins from the blood. Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toxins
Noun
  • Wildlife officials had found that many of these poisons worked their way through the food chain, sickening and killing owls, raptors, coyotes and mountain lions.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Russia accused of trying to undermine Ukraine's allies Russia has long been accused of targeting its enemies abroad, including by using rare poisons.
    CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In late May, about 50,000 people in Orange County were evacuated because, at a Garden Grove site operated by GKN Aerospace, tanks holding a volatile hazardous chemical called methyl methacrylate were at risk of exploding or leaking toxics.
    Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • Munoz is an independent toxicologist working in collaboration with MAHA against pesticides and toxics.
    Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
Noun
  • If the model works, Hund says Rare Ventures will expand to include more diseases and potentially fund more treatments.
    Brad Quick, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • This is far from the first time that Kennedy and his allies have attempted to downplay and spread misinformation about deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Some venoms paralyze respiratory muscles, while others destroy tissue, disrupt blood clotting, damage kidneys, or trigger cardiovascular collapse.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Some people are allergic to different venoms, and could experience life-threatening anaphylaxis without immediate treatment.
    Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Toxins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toxins. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster