virulent vs vital

virulent

adj
  • Of a pathogen: replicating within its host cell, then immediately causing it to undergo lysis. 

  • Extremely hostile or malicious; intensely acrimonious. 

  • Of a disease or disease-causing agent: malignant, able to cause damage to the host. 

  • Of animals, plants, or substances: extremely venomous or poisonous. 

vital

adj
  • Invigorating or life-giving. 

  • Very important. 

  • Containing life; living. 

  • Necessary to continued existence. 

  • Necessary to the continuation of life; being the seat of life; being that on which life depends. 

  • Capable of living; in a state to live; viable. 

  • Relating to the recording of life events. 

  • Relating to, or characteristic of life. 

How often have the words virulent and vital occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )