virulent

/ˈvɪrələnt/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈɪrələnt] /ˈvɪrələnt/ (ame, ipa) · [vˈɪrələnt] /ˈvir-ə-lənt How to pronounce virulent (audio) ˈvir-yə-/ (ame, mw)

virulent — adjective

  • virulentpositive
  • more virulentcomparative
  • most virulentsuperlative

1. used to describe a disease or poison that spreads rapidly and causes severe harm

1.形容詞C1
釋義

used to describe a disease or poison that spreads rapidly and causes severe harm to living things

例句

A virulent strain of the virus swept through Zola's village in less than a week.

virulent + strain — medical collocation

The doctors fought to contain the virulent infection that had already reached the capital.

virulent + infection — disease collocation

同義詞
  • deadly

    less specific about speed; describes anything capable of causing death

  • toxic

    focuses on chemical harm; commonly used for substances and environments, not infections

  • malignant

    medical term for aggressively spreading tumours; not used for poisons

反義詞
  • harmless

    causing no harm at all

  • benign

    of a disease or growth, not harmful and unlikely to spread

文法句型

virulent + noun (strain / infection / disease / poison / toxin / bacteria)

用法筆記

Commonly used before nouns such as strain, infection, disease, poison, and bacteria. Emphasizes not only severity but also how quickly the harm spreads or takes effect.

常見錯誤

❌I caught a virulent flu.
✅A virulent strain of flu spread through the school in two days.
💡'virulent' describes the dangerously fast-spreading nature of a disease, not simply having it.
❌The food was virulent.
✅The food contained a virulent poison.
💡'virulent' describes the poison itself, not the food that carries it.

2. used about spoken or written words that express extreme anger and a strong desir

2.形容詞C1
釋義

used about spoken or written words that express extreme anger and a strong desire to attack someone

例句

Senator Tamar launched a virulent attack on the opposition during the health-care debate.

virulent attack + on — political discourse pattern

Hari received a virulent email from a former colleague full of bitter accusations.

同義詞
  • hostile

    less intense; can describe unfriendly feelings without the element of bitter attack

  • vicious

    similar intensity but implies cruelty in action, not limited to speech

  • bitter

    focuses on resentment and hurt feelings rather than actively attacking

反義詞

文法句型

virulent + noun (attack / criticism / rhetoric / opposition / comments)

virulent + against + target

用法筆記

Describes hostile speech or writing, not physical violence or facial expressions. The target of the hostility is usually introduced with against or directed at. Common objects include attack, criticism, rhetoric, and opposition.

常見錯誤

❌The man gave me a virulent look.
✅The speaker launched a virulent attack on the new policy.
💡'virulent' applies to speech and writing, not to looks or gestures.
❌She felt virulent toward him.
✅She wrote a virulent letter to the editor expressing her anger.
💡'virulent' describes the expression of hostility, not the internal feeling.