toxic en · ADJ
Pronunciation
Etymology
Etymology tree Undeterminedder.? Ancient Greek τόξον (tóxon) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Hellenic *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ῐκός (-ĭkós) Ancient Greek τοξῐκός (toxĭkós) Ancient Greek τοξικόν (toxikón)der. Latin toxicum Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Italic *-kos Latin -cus Latin toxicusbor. French toxiquebor. English toxic Borrowed from French toxique, from Late Latin toxicus (“poisoned”), from Latin toxicum (“poison”), from Ancient Greek τοξικόν (toxikón) [φάρμακον (phármakon)] ("poison for use on arrows"), from τοξικός (toxikós, “pertaining to arrows or archery”), from τόξον (tóxon, “bow”).
Meanings
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Having a chemical nature that is harmful to health or lethal if consumed or otherwise entering into the body in sufficient quantities.
Tobacco smoke contains many toxic substances.
If some types of electronic waste aren’t incinerated at a high enough temperature, dioxins, which can cause cancer and developmental problems, infiltrate the food supply. Without proper safeguarding, toxic heavy metals seep into the soil and groundwater.
2019 December 8, Hannah Beech, Ryn Jirenuwat, “The Price of Recycling Old Laptops: Toxic Fumes in Thailand’s Lungs”, in New York Times:
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Appearing grossly unwell; characterised by serious, potentially life-threatening compromise in the respiratory, circulatory or other body systems.
The child appeared toxic on arrival at the hospital.
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(figuratively) Severely negative or harmful.
a toxic environment that promoted bullying
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(figuratively) Of a person, hateful or strongly antipathetic.
It is not good to be around toxic people.
A veteran UN diplomat, Kaag, 62, said the environment for politicians in the Netherlands had become “toxic” as she and colleagues faced a continual barrage of “hate, intimidation and threats” and often needed tight police security.
2024 April 29, Jon Henley, “Surreal claims, lawfare and abuse: toxic politics in Spain reflect the new Europe”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:Though Twitter is still overrun with toxic anger and fear-based nonsense (now more than ever), it is also, in one crucial way, beginning to play an important role in our response to the pandemic.
2020 April 23, Cal Newport, “'Expert Twitter' Only Goes So Far. Bring Back Blogs”, in Wired:“I’m sorry for taking part in the toxic politics … put down the knives, be kind to one another … I never wanted to cause any harm,” [Marjorie Taylor] Greene said.
2025 November 16, Joanna Walters, quoting Marjorie Taylor Greene, “Marjorie Taylor Greene says Trump’s remarks hurtful but hopes they can make up”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more toxic | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most toxic | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
endotoxic · mechanotoxic · cryotoxic · toxidrome · toxic syndrome · ciliotoxic · toxicemia · adrenotoxic · angiotoxic · vasculotoxic · fetotoxic · semitoxic · necrotoxic · zootoxic · osteotoxic · gonadotoxic · chondrotoxic · reprotoxic · thymotoxic · toxicness · glycotoxic · fungitoxic · glucolipotoxic · toxic asset · toxicosis · dermatoxic · toxics · maternotoxic · toxic debt · toxically · proteotoxic · agrotoxic · thyrotoxic · hematotoxic · olfactotoxic · foetotoxic · toxic megacolon · ribotoxic · nanotoxic · osmotoxic · subtoxic · ecotoxic · polytoxic · nematotoxic · mycotoxic · toxic hellstew · photodermatotoxicity · hemotoxic · organic dust toxic syndrome · biotoxic · atoxic · cardiotoxic · gastrotoxic · toxic femininity · hypotoxic · nephrotoxic · cancerotoxic · glucotoxic · toxic oil syndrome · vestibulotoxic · toxify · splenotoxic · aerotoxic · organotoxic · antitoxic · immunotoxic · oculotoxic · spermatotoxic · leucotoxic · toxic anterior segment syndrome · ichthyosarcotoxic · toxic tort · equitoxic · pneumotoxic · ichthyotoxic · ovotoxic · tubulotoxic · lipotoxic · mytilotoxine · hypertoxic · radiotoxic · toxication · chronotoxic · toxicate · phototoxic · toxicity · myelotoxic · toxic positivity · histotoxic · detoxicate · toxic shock syndrome · excitotoxic · fertotoxic · myotoxic · xenotoxic · chemotoxic · lymphotoxic · exotoxic · pulmonotoxic · cytotoxic · coagulotoxic · acarotoxic · psychotoxic · toxicoid · rhizotoxic · retinotoxic · embryotoxic · autotoxic · supertoxic · phytotoxic · bacteriotoxic · toxic masculinity · gametotoxic · toxic waste · nontoxic · entomotoxic · ototoxic · hepatotoxic · neurotoxic · leukotoxic · phlebotoxic · urotoxic · genotoxic · dermatotoxic
Relateds
toxin · intoxicate · toxicant
Synonyms
Translations (93)
pl toksyczny (having a harmful chemical nature) · la toxicus (having a harmful chemical nature) · el τοξικός (having a harmful chemical nature) · yi סמיק (having a harmful chemical nature) · mi tāoke (having a harmful chemical nature) · de verdorben (severely negative or harmful) · uk токсичний (having a harmful chemical nature) · nl kwaadaardig (hateful or strongly antipathetic) · ca tòxic (having a harmful chemical nature) · gl tóxico (having a harmful chemical nature) · de gehässig (hateful or strongly antipathetic) · bg отровен (appearing grossly unwell) · pl toksyczny (severely negative or harmful) · de gesundheitsschädlich (having a harmful chemical nature) · fi myrkyllinen (having a harmful chemical nature) · lb gëfteg (having a harmful chemical nature) · sh то̀ксичан (having a harmful chemical nature) · ro toxic (having a harmful chemical nature) · ga tocsaineach (having a harmful chemical nature) · et toksiline (having a harmful chemical nature) · ko 유독 한 (having a harmful chemical nature) · fa زهری (having a harmful chemical nature) · ar سَامّ (having a harmful chemical nature) · sk toxický (having a harmful chemical nature) · nl naar (hateful or strongly antipathetic) · sv giftig (having a harmful chemical nature) · hu mérgező (having a harmful chemical nature) · th เป็นพิษ (having a harmful chemical nature) · de giftig (having a harmful chemical nature) · ru токси́чный (hateful or strongly antipathetic) · kk улағыш (having a harmful chemical nature) · bg токсичен (having a harmful chemical nature) · eo toksa (having a harmful chemical nature) · ru токси́чный (having a harmful chemical nature) · yi טאָקסיש (having a harmful chemical nature) · sh tòksičan (having a harmful chemical nature) · ca verinós (having a harmful chemical nature) · cs toxický (having a harmful chemical nature) · de giftig (hateful or strongly antipathetic) · br pistrius (having a harmful chemical nature) · uk отруйний (having a harmful chemical nature) · da toksisk (having a harmful chemical nature) · de vergiftet (severely negative or harmful) · tr toksik (having a harmful chemical nature) · el δηλητηριώδης (having a harmful chemical nature) · nl haatdragend (hateful or strongly antipathetic) · cs otravný (having a harmful chemical nature) · fi toksinen (having a harmful chemical nature) · nb toksisk (having a harmful chemical nature) · de äußerst schädlich (severely negative or harmful) · de in kritischem Zustand (appearing grossly unwell) · nn toksisk (having a harmful chemical nature) · gv ard-physhoonagh (having a harmful chemical nature) · ja 毒性 (having a harmful chemical nature) · de boshaft (hateful or strongly antipathetic) · nb giftig (having a harmful chemical nature) · sl strupen (having a harmful chemical nature) · ga nimhiúil (having a harmful chemical nature) · io toxika (having a harmful chemical nature) · cmn 有毒的 (having a harmful chemical nature) · sv toxisk (having a harmful chemical nature) · he רעיל (having a harmful chemical nature) · ota مسموم (having a harmful chemical nature) · pt tóxico (having a harmful chemical nature) · de toxisch (having a harmful chemical nature) · sa विष (having a harmful chemical nature) · mr विषारी (having a harmful chemical nature) · nl giftig (having a harmful chemical nature) · de gefährlich (severely negative or harmful) · mi paitini (having a harmful chemical nature) · it tossico (having a harmful chemical nature) · de feindselig (hateful or strongly antipathetic) · hy թունավոր (having a harmful chemical nature) · da giftig (having a harmful chemical nature) · fr toxique (having a harmful chemical nature) · sk otravný (having a harmful chemical nature) · pl toksyczny (hateful or strongly antipathetic) · lv indīgs (having a harmful chemical nature) · lt toksiškas (having a harmful chemical nature) · et mürgine (having a harmful chemical nature) · km ពុល (having a harmful chemical nature) · es tóxico (having a harmful chemical nature) · lv toksisks (having a harmful chemical nature) · de hasserfüllt (hateful or strongly antipathetic) · ru ядови́тый (having a harmful chemical nature) · mhr аяр (having a harmful chemical nature) · de in Lebensgefahr (appearing grossly unwell) · hi विषाक्त (having a harmful chemical nature) · ka ტოქსიკური (having a harmful chemical nature) · nn giftig (having a harmful chemical nature) · vi độc (having a harmful chemical nature) · nl toxisch (having a harmful chemical nature) · ast tóxicu (having a harmful chemical nature)