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poison pen

[poi-zuhn-pen] / ˈpɔɪ zənˈpɛn /


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.

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Police had fingerprint evidence linking a high-profile councillor to a poison pen letter up to 12 months before he went on to target another politician in a "persistent and wicked" hate mail campaign.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

Paul jokes he picked people who “maybe have a bit more of a poison pen than I would.”

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 14, 2021

In other words, even if it’s a love letter, that doesn’t mean it’s afraid to uncap its poison pen.

From Slate ● Jul. 6, 2021

Yes, I started writing it, but I put my poison pen aside for a while to direct a revue of Maury Yeston’s music and lyrics called “Anything Can Happen in the Theater.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2017

“Our aunt and our great-grandma should be rocking on this porch together. Not sending poison pen letters back and forth through you.”

From "Gone Crazy in Alabama" by Rita Williams-Garcia


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