virulent
virulent
Pronunciation
Phonetic Spelling
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) phonetic spelling for virulent is: /ˈvɪrələnt/ or /ˈvɪrjələnt/
🔊 Syllable Breakdown
virulent is a three-syllable word: vir-u-lent.
First syllable (vir): /vɪr/ or /vɪər/ (The sound is like v as in vine, followed by a short i as in it, and a final r sound.)
Second syllable (u): /ə/ or /jə/ (This is a schwa sound, like the a in about, or a "yuh" sound.)
Third syllable (lent): /lənt/ (The sound is like l as in let, the schwa a in about, an n sound, and a t sound.)
Word Form Variations
The term virulent is an adjective, and its main word form variations are:
Noun: virulence (noncount, referring to the quality or state of being virulent)
Adverb: virulently (in a virulent manner)
Related Adjectives (less common/technical): avirulent (not virulent), hypervirulent (extremely virulent).
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective: Virulent
Definition 1 (Medical/Biological): Extremely dangerous, infectious, or poisonous; possessing a high capacity to cause severe disease or rapid damage.
Synonyms: Deadly, lethal, toxic, malignant, infectious, venomous.
Antonyms: Harmless, benign, innocuous, avirulent, nonpoisonous.
Definition 2 (Figurative): Characterized by intense bitterness, hostility, or malice; severely and relentlessly harsh in tone or expression.
Synonyms: Vicious, hostile, scathing, vitriolic, malicious, rancorous.
Antonyms: Kind, gentle, amiable, benign, complimentary, mild.
Noun: Virulence
Definition 1 (Medical/Biological): The degree of severity or infectivity of a disease, poison, or pathogen; the power of an organism to overcome a host's defenses.
Synonyms: Toxicity, lethality, deadliness, malignity, potency.
Antonyms: Safety, harmlessness, benignity, nonpathogenicity.
Definition 2 (Figurative): The quality of being fiercely bitter, aggressive, or hateful in feeling or expression.
Synonyms: Hostility, malice, acrimony, venom, bitterness, spitefulness.
Antonyms: Kindness, goodwill, mildness, amiability, benevolence.
Adverb: Virulently
Definition: In an extremely hostile, malicious, or damaging way.
Synonyms: Viciously, maliciously, poisonously, scathingly, fiercely.
Antonyms: Harmlessly, mildly, gently, kindly, benevolently.
Examples of Use
📰 News and Online Publications
Biological/Medical Use:
"The health agency is working quickly to contain the spread of a virulent strain of avian influenza that has proven difficult to treat in humans."
"Scientists are racing to develop a new vaccine effective against a particularly virulent C. difficile infection found in hospitals." (The New York Times, October 2025)
Figurative/Political Use:
"The op-ed pages were filled with virulent criticism of the new trade agreement, with commentators from both parties issuing harsh rebukes." (The Guardian, September 2025)
"Despite the candidate's efforts to remain positive, the social media campaign launched against her became increasingly virulent, relying on personal attacks and misinformation."
📚 Books and Literature
Non-Fiction/History:
"The 1920s saw a rising tide of virulent nationalism across several European states, setting the stage for future global conflict."
Fiction (Description of Tone/Emotion):
"He spoke with a virulent contempt that made the entire courtroom fall silent, the sheer venom of his words impossible to ignore."
Fiction (Description of Disease):
"They found a small, dark pustule on the patient's arm, the first sign of what would quickly become a virulent and consuming plague."
🗣️ General Public Discourse & Entertainment
Documentaries/Entertainment Platforms:
A film critic on a podcast might say: "The movie's villain wasn't just evil; he delivered a truly virulent monologue in the final act, filled with pure, unfiltered hatred."
Public Health Announcements:
A government official might state: "The key to fighting this outbreak is isolation, as even mild cases have proven capable of shedding a highly virulent version of the pathogen." (CDC Report, August 2025)
Sports Commentary:
A sports analyst might describe fan reaction: "The crowd's reaction to the referee's call was so virulent that security had to be called in to escort the officials off the field."
10 Famous Quotes Using Virulent
“I still am a virulent anti-communist.” (Joe Lhota)
“Riots were also the most virulent symptoms to date of another, and in some ways graver, national disorder—the decline in respect for public authority and the rule of law in America.” (Richard Nixon, Reader's Digest, October 1967)
“But a far more virulent strain survived.” (Grant Morrison, Nameless)
“In the early sixties, we were strong, we were virulent.” (John Connally)
“Success is virulent; once you get the bug then it's in you.” (Steve Backley)
“I want to remind people that the most virulent form of the AIDS virus, HIV-1, does not follow the classic pattern of infectious agents in that there is no 'breakthrough' immunity that develops in an exposed population.” (Dr. Robert Gallo)
“The very principle of Christianity is to be absolutely virulent against the devil, and against the devil's work.” (Thomas Carlyle)
“There will never cease to be a virulent nationalism as long as there is an inequitable distribution of the world’s wealth.” (Jawaharlal Nehru)
“There is a particularly virulent form of poverty that is born of an unequal distribution of wealth that is inherent in an oppressive political system.” (Boutros Boutros-Ghali)
“The emergence and spread of virulent strains is another risk of our current animal agriculture system.” (Michael Greger)
Etymology
The word virulent traces its origins back to Latin, and its history clearly explains why it has two distinct meanings today—one related to poison and one related to spite.
🌳 Ancient Roots: Poison
The core of the word is the Latin noun vīrus, which literally meant:
"Poison,"
"Venom," or
"A poisonous liquid or slimy substance."
From this root, the adjective vīrulentus was formed, meaning "full of poison" or "poisonous."
🕰️ First Known Use in English
The word virulent entered the English language during the Middle English period, around the late 14th century (c. 1350–1400), where it was sometimes spelled as verulent.
The first known meaning in English was directly related to its Latin root:
"Discharging watery pus" or "purulent" (related to infection and disease).
🔄 Evolution of Meaning
Literal Meaning (Poison/Disease): For centuries, the primary meaning stayed close to the root: "extremely poisonous or venomous." Later, especially with the rise of microbiology, this evolved into the modern medical sense: "highly infectious" and "capable of causing severe disease."
Figurative Meaning (Spite/Malice): Because poison is deadly and malicious, the word gradually developed a figurative sense. By the late 16th century, virulent was being used to describe feelings, language, or people that were "full of bitter hostility, spite, or malice"—as if their words or actions were verbal poison.
In short, vīrus (poison) became vīrulentus (full of poison), which then became virulent in English, applying both to physical dangers (like a deadly disease) and emotional dangers (like hateful criticism).
Phrases + Idioms Containing Virulent
Here is a list of phrases and idioms (including those using close synonyms for a similar effect) related to the two main meanings of virulent.
🦠 Phrases & Collocations (Disease/Poison)
These phrases use virulent in its literal sense of being severely poisonous or infectious:
Virulent strain (A highly dangerous or infectious variant of a microorganism, e.g., "a virulent strain of the flu.")
Virulent pathogen (An agent that causes disease with extreme severity.)
Virulent infection (A disease that spreads rapidly and has violent, destructive effects.)
Highly virulent (Used to emphasize an extreme degree of toxicity or infectivity.)
A virulent poison (An extremely potent or deadly toxin.)
Lethal virulence (Using a synonym to emphasize the fatal quality of the disease or toxin.)
😠 Phrases & Collocations (Hostility/Malice)
These phrases use virulent in its figurative sense of being bitterly hostile or malicious:
Virulent attack (A fierce, bitter, and destructive verbal or written assault.)
Virulent criticism (Extremely harsh, scathing, and malicious commentary.)
Virulent racism (Deeply rooted, aggressive, and widespread racial prejudice or hatred.)
Virulent nationalism (Aggressive, often extreme, devotion to one's own nation above others, often accompanied by hostility toward other nations.)
Acid-tongued/Vitriolic rant (A common idiom using a synonym: A speech full of biting, corrosive malice.)
Poisoning the well (An idiom that captures the effect of virulent speech: To damage someone's reputation or credibility early on to make anything they say or do later seem untrustworthy or malicious.)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of virulent from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
