english
1
general::
poisonous
containing or producing a substance that is likely to kill you, or make you very ill:
• poisonous gas • poisonous snakes • The plant is poisonous to humans and animals.
toxic
toxic chemicals and waste are poisonous to people and the environment:
• Crops were sprayed with highly toxic chemicals. • Lead is toxic to humans. • The site was used for the disposal of toxic waste.
noxious
[ usually before noun ] formal noxious substances and gases are poisonous:
• Vehicles pollute the air with noxious fumes • The soil may be contaminated with noxious substances.
hazardous
[ usually before noun ] hazardous substances are likely to harm people, animals, or the environment if they are not dealt with or got rid of carefully:
• Lead is one of the most hazardous substances known, causing cancer and nerve damage. • The building is now unoccupied, and all radioactive or hazardous materials have been removed. • hazardous nuclear waste
deadly
extremely poisonous and likely to kill you – used especially about poisons and snakes:
• a deadly poison • a deadly snake • Terrorists plotted to release a deadly gas.
COLLOCATIONS CHECK
poisonous
gas/substance/chemical/snake/insect/plant
toxic
chemical/substance/waste
noxious
substance/gas/fumes
hazardous
waste/material/chemical
deadly
poison/snake/gas/virus/disease
Longman-Thesaurus
2
general::
adj. VERBS be | become ADV. deadly, extremely, highly PREP. to The leaves of yew trees are poisonous to cattle.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
3
general::
adj.
lethal:
The acid gave off poisonous fumes.
Simple Definitions