infectious; having the ability to cause disease

extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom; venomous snakes; a virulent insect bite

[ Syn: deadly , venomous ]

harsh or corrosive in tone; an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose; a barrage of acid comments; her acrid remarks make her many enemies; bitter words; blistering criticism; caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics; a sulfurous denunciation; a vitriolic critique

[ Syn: acerb , acerbic , acid , acrid , bitter , blistering , caustic , sulfurous , sulphurous , vitriolic ]