virulent

adjective

1. Of animals, plants, or substances: extremely venomous or poisonous.

2. figurativeExtremely hostile or malicious; intensely acrimonious.

   “The politicians were virulent in their hatred of the president.”

3. medicineOf a disease or disease-causing agent: malignant, able to cause damage to the host.

4. microbiologyOf a pathogen: replicating within its host cell, then immediately causing it to undergo lysis.

5. Extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom

   “venomous snakes”

   “a virulent insect bite”

   Similar: deadly, venomous

6. Infectious; having the ability to cause disease

7. Harsh or corrosive in tone

   “an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose”

   “a barrage of acid comments”

   “her acrid remarks make her many enemies”

   Similar: acerb, acerbic, acid, acrid, bitter, blistering