Meanings
plural toxic shock syndromes
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAn acute infection caused by Staphylococcus bacteria, characterized by sudden high fever, muscle aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and fainting.
More synonyms by meaning
nounsyndrome resulting from a serious acute (sometimes fatal) infection associated with the presence of staphylococcus; characterized by fever and diarrhea and nausea and diffuse erythema and shock; occurs especially in menstruating women using highly absorbent tampons
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From toxic + shock + syndrome. First appears in medical literature c. 1978.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Czech syndrom toxického šoku
- syndrom toxického šokuacute infection
Finnish toksinen sokkioireyhtymä
- toksinen sokkioireyhtymäacute infection
Polish zespół wstrząsu toksycznego
- zespół wstrząsu toksycznegoacute infection
Russian инфекционно-токсический шок
- инфекционно-токсический шок (infekcionno-toksičeskij šok)acute infection
Spanish síndrome del choque tóxico
- síndrome del choque tóxicoacute infection
Cite this entry
toxic shock syndrome. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/toxic%20shock%20syndrome
“toxic shock syndrome.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/toxic%20shock%20syndrome. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “toxic shock syndrome,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/toxic%20shock%20syndrome.
Source: toxic shock syndrome on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.