Definition of toxic
1 : containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation toxic waste a toxic radioactive gas an insecticide highly toxic to birds
2 : exhibiting symptoms of infection or toxicosis the patient became toxic two days later
3 : extremely harsh, malicious, or harmful toxic sarcasm
4 : relating to or being an asset that has lost so much value that it cannot be sold on the market
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Examples of toxic in a Sentence
The fumes from that chemical are highly toxic.
Tests will be run to determine if the landfill is toxic.
Recent Examples of toxic from the Web
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The culture war only grew more toxic in the last two weeks, as a number of tech companies moved to ban far-right, white nationalist, and neo-Nazi users and groups from their platforms in the wake of the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.
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Many heavy metals like cadmium, mercury, and lead are toxic to both large and small creatures alike, and some bacteria have evolved a defense.
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What should have been a series of quiet discussions has escalated into a knockdown, dragged-out public civil war between the board’s Kalanick loyalists and those who want to distance the company from his toxic image.
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The district has the authority to modify a company's health-risk goals STAR, which was adopted after a study determined excessive health risks from certain toxic chemicals in Louisville's air.
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Delish reports Zhang was actually eating a plant called Agave Americana, which is toxic.
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Sherman portrays Dr. Mara Lowe-Cumbre, an environmental scientist who warns Floridians about the danger of toxic runoff from unregulated industries that will erode limestone leading to a sinking of Florida.
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The projects are a nautical version of a car-washing machine, a way to remove toxic copper from bay waters, a smartphone app to locate empty boat slips, and an incubator for shellfish.
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Grossman said that despite claims that vaping is safer than regular cigarette smoking, the number of toxic chemicals involved and their possible long-term effects remain unknown.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'toxic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of toxic
Late Latin toxicus, from Latin toxicum poison, from Greek toxikon arrow poison, from neuter of toxikos of a bow, from toxon bow, arrow
Other Biology Terms
toxic
Definition of toxic
: a toxic substance —usually used in plural
Examples of toxic in a Sentence
tested for toxics in the water supply
Recent Examples of toxic from the Web
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Carey said even a single $1,500 fine for not filing an annual vacant building notice can turn a viable investment toxic.
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Full Article: Disney's Stock Is Toxic, This Chart Shows Video provided by TheStreet Newslook Investing in the stock market can be a challenge, even when the Dow Jones industrial average and other barometers keep hitting new highs.
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Use of toxics has grown over the past three to four years, and chemicals have been found at sites in Oregon and Washington as well, said Chris Boehm, the Forest Service's assistant director for enforcement and investigation.
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Store toxics in away or below food and food contact surfaces.
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A Christian politician is not one who builds power by fueling toxic, fear-inflating rhetoric.
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By speaking up, UCSF scientists have helped turned the tide on such public health threats as cigarette smoking, air pollution, HIV prevention and maternal and childhood toxics, said Laird, who studies infertility and the origin of birth defects.
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Morello-French stressed air regulators aren’t routinely monitoring industrial areas for toxics such as hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'toxic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of toxic
1890
toxic-
toxico-
Definition of toxic-
: poison toxicology
Origin and Etymology of toxic-
New Latin, from Latin toxicum
TOXIC Defined for English Language Learners
toxic
playDefinition of toxic for English Language Learners
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: containing poisonous substances
TOXIC Defined for Kids
toxic
playDefinition of toxic for Students
: containing, being, or caused by poisonous or dangerous material toxic waste toxic effects
History for toxic
Sometimes people put poison on the points of arrows. Even a slight wound from such an arrow can be fatal. The ancient Greeks referred to arrow poison as toxikon, short for toxikon pharmakon, literally, “bow drug” (from toxos, “bow”). As Latin toxicum, the word was applied more generally to any poison. The English word toxic comes from this Latin word.
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of toxic
1: containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing serious injury or death toxic drugs toxic gas
2: of, relating to, or caused by a poison or toxin toxic liver damage
3a: affected by a poison or toxinb: affected with toxemia of pregnancy toxic pregnant women
toxic
Medical Definition of toxic
: a toxic substance
Law Dictionary
toxic
playLegal Definition of toxic
1 : containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation
2 : having substantially lowered worth; specifically : relating to or being an asset that has lost so much value that it cannot be sold on the market toxic assets toxic subprime loans
Learn More about toxic
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for toxic Spanish Central: Translation of toxic Nglish: Translation of toxic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of toxic for Arabic speakers
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