Word
toxic
Phoneticstox·ic, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɑksɪk/
UK/tˈɒksɪk/
Definitions
01poisonous
B1 · Intermediate Science
adj. containing poison or being very harmful to your health if you touch or eat it.
adj. containing or being a poisonous substance that is harmful or lethal if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed.
日本語:有毒な※
“The factory was fined for dumping toxic waste into the local river.”
“The cleanup crew wore protective suits to prevent any contact with the toxic chemicals leaking from the overturned tanker.”
02harmful relationships
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describing a person or situation that is very unpleasant and causes a lot of unhappiness.
adj. metaphorically describing a person, relationship, or workplace culture that is psychologically harmful or destructive.
“She decided to leave her job because the office environment had become toxic.”
“Psychologists warn that staying in a toxic relationship can have long-term effects on a person's self-esteem and mental well-being.”
Antonyms
03grossly unwell
C1 · Advanced Medicine Technical
adj. appearing very sick, especially when a person's whole body is struggling to work.
adj. appearing clinically unwell, often indicating a systemic infection or a life-threatening compromise of vital systems.
“The doctor noticed the patient looked toxic and ordered immediate blood tests.”
“The infant appeared toxic upon admission, showing signs of respiratory distress and poor circulation that suggested a severe systemic infection.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “toxic” in context.
Verb
01. eliminate toxic waste
“The new regulations require factories to eliminate toxic waste more effectively.”
verb + adj + noun
02. escape a toxic situation
“He felt a sense of relief once he managed to escape a toxic situation at his previous job.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
03. highly toxic
“The chemical spill released highly toxic fumes into the surrounding atmosphere.”
adv + adj
04. toxic to the environment
“Many common household cleaners are unfortunately toxic to the environment.”
adj + prep + noun
Noun
05. toxic masculinity
“The documentary explores how toxic masculinity prevents men from expressing their emotions.”
adj + noun
06. toxic assets
“The bank struggled to recover after investing heavily in toxic assets during the financial crisis.”
adj + noun
07. toxic relationship
“It took him years to finally walk away from that toxic relationship.”
adj + noun
08. toxic work environment
“She decided to resign after realizing she was stuck in a toxic work environment.”
adj + noun + noun
09. toxic chemicals
Real-World Examples
“We are left with the sense that competitive mountain climbing can be a toxic pursuit, especially when climbers try to attract sponsors by performing “extraordinary” feats, as Harila puts it.” “A Shropshire vicar played a key role in a new two-part BBC documentary featuring Welsh Hollywood actor Michael Sheen's investigation into toxic waste dumps.” Etymology
Borrowed from French toxique, from Late Latin toxicus (“poisoned”), from Latin toxicum (“poison”), from Ancient Greek τοξικόν (toxikón) [φάρμακον (phármakon)] ("poison for use on arrows"), from τοξικός (toxikós, “pertaining to arrows or archery”), from τόξον (tóxon, “bow”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/toxic
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0