sulphurous

[ suhl-fer-uhs, suhl-fyoor-uhs ]

adjective

1. sulfurous ( defs 1, 2 ).
2. pertaining to the fires of hell; hellish or satanic.
3. fiery or heated.

sulphurous

/ ˈsʌlfərəs /

adjective

1. Alsosulphureous of, relating to, or resembling sulphur

   a sulphurous colour

2. of or containing sulphur with an oxidation state of 4

   sulphurous acid

3. of or relating to hellfire
4. hot-tempered

Derived Forms

• ˈsulphurousness, noun
• ˈsulphurously, adverb

Other Words From

• sulphur·ous·ly adverb
• sulphur·ous·ness noun
• non·sulphur·ous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sulphurous¹

First recorded in 1520–30; spelling variant of sulfurous

Example Sentences

Clouds of sulphurous gases swirled around the crater and fissures opened up in the rock just metres away, revealing molten rock below.

From BBC

On China's frenetic and hugely popular retail livestreams, glamorous hosts sell goods ranging from shoes and lipsticks to baby products and, increasingly, truckloads of sulphurous coal.

From Reuters

The Russian nationalist leader was a senior lawmaker whose sulphurous rhetoric and antics alarmed the West but appealed to Russians’ aggrievement and wounded pride.

From Seattle Times

From time to time the sea would flare with a soft sulphurous light where forty feet down Oiler was working with the cuttingtorch.

From New York Times

The air was oppressive; it seemed as if there was some sulphurous fume, which at times made me dizzy.

From Literature

Related Words

• biting
• caustic
• harsh
• mordant
• sarcastic
• scorching
• searing
• trenchant
• withering