— virulently , adv.
/vir"yeuh leuhnt, vir"euh-/ , adj.
1. actively poisonous; intensely noxious: a virulent insect bite.
2. Med. highly infective; malignant or deadly.
3. Bacteriol. causing clinical symptoms.
4. violently or spitefully hostile.
5. intensely bitter, spiteful, or malicious: a virulent attack.
[ 1350-1400; ME verulent virulentus, equiv. to vir ( us ) poison (see VIRUS) + -ulentus -ULENT ]
Syn. 1. venomous. 5. vicious, acerbic.
Ant. 1. harmless.