virulent

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   able to cause severe disease; highly infectious or harmful

   The researchers isolated a particularly virulent strain of the virus.

2. 2
   adj

   extremely bitter, hostile, or hateful, especially in speech or writing

   The proposal drew virulent criticism from several opposition newspapers.

From Middle English virulent, borrowed from Latin virulentus, 'poisonous,' from virus, 'poison, venom, or noxious fluid,' plus -ulentus, 'full of.' The hostile-language sense developed by analogy with something poisonous or disease-causing.

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