radioactive

Etymology

Coined by Pierre Curie and Marie Curie in 1898 as French radio-actif, equivalent to English radio- + active.

adj

1. Exhibiting radioactivity.
   As a matter of fact many of our best drinking waters have all sorts of unspecified qualities. Burton water, for example, is radioactive by Beetham's standards up to the ninth degree. 1917, H. G. Wells, “The First Vision”, in The Soul of a Bishop
2. (figurative, rare) Dangerous and disgusting, particularly of people or ideas.
   Even sleazy tactics and his radioactive mouth may not be able to contain this debacle.
   And while Biden’s other nominees have done little to provoke Republican backlash thus far, [Neera] Tanden is “radioactive,” as Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) put it. 2020-11-30, Burgess Everett, Caitlin Emma, Theodoric Meyer, quoting John Cornyn, “Joe Biden's 'radioactive' nominee”, in POLITICO
   If, by some miracle, Democrats hang on to one or both houses of Congress this November, it will be because of Cawthorn, Paul Gosar, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert and other would-be G.O.P. candidates trying to be just like them — the Radioactive Republicans. 2022-04-04, Gail Collins, Bret Stephens, “Which ‘Radioactive Republicans’ Are We Betting On?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

noun

1. Any radioactive substance.
   Any ship nearby will receive a lethal dose of gamma rays, neutrons, and other radioactives. 2016, Travis S. Taylor, Les Johnson, On to the Asteroid