virulence

[vir-yuh-luhns, vir-uh-] / ˈvɪr yə ləns, ˈvɪr ə- /

NOUN

sharpness of temper

Synonyms

STRONG

acerbity acrimony animosity animus annoyance antagonism bitterness choler cynicism displeasure dudgeon embitterment exacerbation exasperation fog fury gall grudge hostility huff hurt indignation ire irritation malice malignity miff offense outrage passion perturbation pique rage rancor rise spite umbrage vehemence vexation virulency wrath

WEAK

bad feeling ill feeling ill will rancorousness resentfulness resentment

Antonyms

STRONG

calm calmness cheer comfort delight glee good will happiness joy kindness love pleasure sweetness sympathy understanding

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“The Saudis understood that their dispute with the Emiratis had crossed into an anti-Israel posture of increasing virulence, that it was creating serious problems for them in Washington,” Dubowitz said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026

This could allow them to acquire genes from frozen pathogens that confer antimicrobial resistance or greater virulence.

From Salon • Apr. 24, 2025

They compared the genomes of EF-responsive and non-responsive strains and found that, in addition to iron acquisition genes, responsive strains had genes associated with virulence and capsule production specifically.

From Science Daily • Dec. 2, 2024

This innovative approach has provided valuable insights into how calcium supplementation can impede the pathogen's ability to form biofilms, a key factor in its virulence.

From Science Daily • May 1, 2024

Like Griffith, Avery observed that the smooth-coated bacteria, once transformed, retained their virulence generation upon generation.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Vocabulary lists containing virulence

30 GRE Words Beginning with "T" "U" "V" and "W"

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

The Serpent King

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Sapiens

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!