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virulent

virulent, fierce

adjective vee-roo-LAHN Rare

Origin: Latin virulentus (full of poison), from virus

Also means

highly infectious (medicine)

Usage Note

Virulent is used both in medicine (a germe virulent — a highly pathogenic germ) and in rhetoric, where une critique virulente means a scathing, bitter attack. The feminine form is virulente. In medical French the adjective has been extended beyond bacteria to describe aggressive cancers or toxins.

Examples

"La presse a publié une critique virulente du film."

Natural Translation

The press published a virulent critique of the film.

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