poisonousness crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome! Here you'll find comprehensive solutions for the crossword clue "poisonousness", helping you complete your puzzle with ease. We've gathered all possible answers, organized by letter count, along with clear explanations.
Solutions for "poisonousness crossword clue" by Letter Count
4 Letters
BANE: A cause of great distress or annoyance, often implying a destructive or harmful influence.
8 Letters
TOXICITY: The quality or state of being poisonous or toxic.
9 Letters
VIRULENCE: The severity or harmfulness of a disease or poison.
More About "poisonousness crossword clue"
The clue "poisonousness" directs solvers to find a word that describes the characteristic or state of being poisonous. This often means looking for abstract nouns rather than specific substances. Crossword constructors love these types of clues because they require a deeper understanding of synonyms and related concepts beyond simple object identification.
When you encounter such a clue, consider the various facets of the concept. "Poisonousness" isn't just about a substance, but its effect, its nature, or its degree of harm. This opens up possibilities like 'toxicity' (the general quality), 'virulence' (often referring to the degree of harmfulness in diseases or poisons), or even 'lethality' if the context implies fatal effects.
Identifying the part of speech is crucial here; 'poisonousness' is a noun, so your answer will almost certainly be a noun. Thinking about common noun suffixes (like -ity, -ence) can also be a helpful strategy when tackling clues for abstract qualities.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Analyze the Part of Speech: Always identify if the clue is a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. 'Poisonousness' is an abstract noun, so look for other abstract nouns as answers.
- Consider Synonyms and Related Concepts: Don't just think of direct synonyms. For 'poisonousness', consider words that describe the effect (e.g., lethality, harmfulness) or the characteristic (e.g., toxicity, virulence).
- Leverage Letter Count: The number of letters is your most powerful constraint. If you have an intersecting word, use those confirmed letters to narrow down possibilities. Our answer groups are specifically designed to help with this!
- Think Beyond the Obvious: Crossword clues often use wordplay, subtle meanings, or less common synonyms. Sometimes, a short, impactful word like 'BANE' can surprisingly fit a clue about something harmful or destructive.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of word does 'poisonousness' typically suggest in crosswords?
Clues like 'poisonousness' usually point to abstract nouns, synonyms for qualities or states, rather than concrete objects. You should look for words describing the characteristic of being poisonous, toxic, or harmful, such as 'toxicity' or 'virulence'.
How do I find synonyms for abstract concepts like 'poisonousness' in puzzles?
When facing abstract concepts, consider words that describe the state, quality, or effect. Think of different ways to express the core idea. For 'poisonousness', consider 'harmfulness', 'lethality', or 'deadliness'. Also, pay attention to the letter count and any already-filled letters from intersecting clues.
Are there common crossword patterns for clues related to 'poisonousness'?
While not a rigid rule, clues related to 'poisonousness' often yield answers ending in '-ity' (e.g., toxicity, lethality) or '-ence' (e.g., virulence), as these suffixes commonly form abstract nouns. Shorter answers might be 'bane' or 'venom' (though 'venom' is a substance, it's closely related to the concept of being poisonous).