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Glite Dictionary
venomousness

venomousness

9.3
Having venom that can harm or kill people and animals
  • noun
  • /ˈvɛnəməsnəs/
: venenosidad
  • The snake's venomousness makes it a dangerous predator in its environment.

Examples

  • Scientists study the venomousness of various species to understand their defensive mechanisms.

  • Virginia politicians are passionate as well, although their feelings can run to venomousness.

    Academic text (2002)

  • Her venomousness was evident in the harsh words she used during the argument.

Surface Forms

venomousness singular
venomousnesses plural

Morphology

venomousness = venomous (transparent) = venom + ous + ness

Formed by a regular adjective-to-noun nominalization of 'venomous' using '-ness', and the adjective itself is transparently derived from 'venom' + '-ous'.

Etymology

Venomousness starts with the common word venom, which means 'poison', and ends with -ness, an ending that makes a word show a quality or state. So venomousness means the 'state of being poisonous', like the bite of a venomous snake.