noxious

[ nok-shuhs ]

adjective

1. harmful or injurious to health or physical well-being:

   noxious fumes.

   Synonyms: deleterious, detrimental, nocuous, unhealthy, unwholesome, hurtful

   Antonyms: harmless

2. morally harmful; corrupting; pernicious:

   a noxious plan to spread dissension.

   Synonyms: corruptive

   Antonyms: harmless

noxious

/ ˈnɒkʃəs /

adjective

1. poisonous or harmful
2. harmful to the mind or morals; corrupting

Derived Forms

• ˈnoxiously, adverb
• ˈnoxiousness, noun

Other Words From

• noxious·ly adverb
• noxious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of noxious¹

1605–15; < Latin noxius harmful, hurtful, injurious, equivalent to nox ( a ) harm, hurt, injury (akin to nocēre to do harm, inflict injury; innocent ) + -ius -ious

Word History and Origins

Origin of noxious¹

C17: from Latin noxius harmful, from noxa injury

Example Sentences

By then, Latinos — who were the primary target of Proposition 187 and its noxious ads — were running for office as Democrats in record numbers.

From Los Angeles Times

Wilmington residents have long complained about noxious air and the rumble of cargo trucks.

From Los Angeles Times

San Francisco — Jet airplanes spew enormous amounts of greenhouse gases and noxious chemicals, but the industry insists it wants to clean itself up.

From Los Angeles Times

Their flare systems alone are permitted to torch flammable gases and emit tens of thousands of pounds of noxious sulfur dioxide emissions to avoid pent-up pressure during oil refining.

From Los Angeles Times

Kwan had admitted administering a noxious substance to Mr O'Hara, 71, but initially claimed he only wanted to cause "pain and discomfort", the trial had heard.

From BBC

Related Words

• corrupting
• destructive
• fetid
• harmful
• pernicious
• poisonous
• putrid
• toxic
• unhealthy
• virulent