Meaning & use

toxic

adjective·Everyday

Poisonous, or harmful to health, relationships, or well-being in a damaging, often insidious way.

See it in a sentence

The factory was fined for dumping toxic waste into the nearby river.

She finally left the toxic friendship that had drained her confidence for years.

A note on using this word

Beyond chemical poison, 'toxic' is now widely used for damaging relationships, workplaces, or attitudes, as in a 'toxic environment.'

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

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