wolfsbane

W4O1L1F4S1B3A1N1E1
/ˈwʊlfsbeɪn/

noun

Any of several poisonous perennial herbs of the genus Aconitum.

Similar
aconitemonkshoodarnicaleopard's baneleopardsbanewolf's banemountain tobaccomountain arnica
OriginAncient Greek λυκοκτόνον →
RareScrabble 17
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Meanings

nounwolfsbane (countable and uncountable, plural wolfsbanes)

plural wolfsbanes · alternative wolf's bane · alternative wolfbane

  1. countableuncountableAny of several poisonous perennial herbs of the genus Aconitum.

    Synonyms: aconite, monkshood

  2. countableuncountableArnica montana.

    Synonyms: arnica, leopard's bane, leopardsbane, wolf's bane, mountain tobacco, mountain arnica

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAny of several poisonous perennial herbs of the genus Aconitum.

Similar
aconitemonkshood

nounArnica montana.

Similar
arnicaleopard's baneleopardsbanewolf's banemountain tobaccomountain arnica

More synonyms by meaning

nounpoisonous Eurasian perennial herb with broad rounded leaves and yellow flowers and fibrous rootstock

Similar
wolfbanewolf's baneAconitum lycoctonum
Broader
aconite
Also see
aconitemonkshood

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekλυκοκτόνον
  2. Englishwolfsbane

From wolf + -s- + bane, a calque of Ancient Greek λυκοκτόνον (lukoktónon), from λύκος (lúkos, “wolf”) + κτείνω (kteínō, “to kill”). Influenced by Latin lycoctonum.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

wolfsbane. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wolfsbane

MLA

“wolfsbane.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wolfsbane. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “wolfsbane,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wolfsbane.

Source: wolfsbane on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.