ˈpȯiz( ə )nəs, dial ˈpīz- adjective
1.
a. : that is poison or that has the qualities or effects of poison
a poisonous substance
a stifling poisonous atmosphere — Joseph Conrad
b.
(1) : that contains or is mixed with or impregnated with poison
a poisonous liquid
poisonous fumes
(2) : that has been dipped into or touched or smeared with poison
avoided the poisonous tip of the arrow
2.
a. : that destroys, harms, interferes with, or otherwise adversely affects in a manner suggestive of poison
a double life that would be poisonous to their continued happiness
is poisonous to any attempt at dispassionate thinking — Saturday Review
b. : that taints, corrupts, perverts, or prejudices especially in an evil or insidious way
the poisonous effects of such deception
secret spreading of poisonous propaganda — F.D.Roosevelt
3. : viciously spiteful : full of malice : venomous , malignant , malevolent
poisonous slander
gave her a poisonous look
the most poisonous hostility — Dorothy C. Fisher
wrote two poisonous pamphlets which preserve the gossip and scandal of the day — R.W.Southern
4. : altogether disagreeable
was in a poisonous temper — Ngaio Marsh
: obnoxious , loathsome , nauseating
thought the weather was positively poisonous
such children in literature are often pretty poisonous — Orville Prescott
• poi·son·ous·ly adverb
• poi·son·ous·ness noun -es