miasma

[ mahy-az-muh, mee- ]

noun

, plural mi·as·mas, mi·as·ma·ta [mahy-, az, -m, uh, -t, uh, mee-].

1. noxious exhalations from putrescent organic matter; poisonous effluvia or germs polluting the atmosphere.
2. a dangerous, foreboding, or deathlike influence or atmosphere.

miasma

/ mɪˈæzmə; ˌmiːəzˈmætɪk /

noun

1. an unwholesome or oppressive atmosphere
2. pollution in the atmosphere, esp noxious vapours from decomposing organic matter

Derived Forms

• miˈasmal, adjective

Other Words From

• mi·asmal mi·as·mat·ic [mahy-az-, mat, -ik], mias·mati·cal mi·asmic adjective
• unmi·asmal adjective
• unmi·as·matic adjective
• unmi·as·mati·cal adjective
• unmi·asmic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of miasma¹

1655–65; < New Latin < Greek míasma stain, pollution, akin to miaínein to pollute, stain

Word History and Origins

Origin of miasma¹

C17: New Latin, from Greek: defilement, from miainein to defile

Example Sentences

It’s also possible the miasmas of their lives and interests will swirl off in other directions for any number of other reasons independent of how they feel about each other.

From Washington Post

A pandemic raced over the land, there were wildfires, uneasy political divisions, and we gasped in the miasma of social media.

From MIT Technology Review

Since then, a black miasma of recursive vengeance has descended upon Iraq.

From The Daily Beast

The air of CGI is thick with the miasma of biz-school neologisms.

From The Daily Beast

And I wonder if what we are looking at with the “fly by” of Minneapolis might not be a form of miasma—called boredom.

From The Daily Beast

Tories will wax eloquent on "the pink miasma of revolutionary Radicalism."

From Project Gutenberg

The pollution (miasma) of sin is precipitated by his blood, the power of sin is conquered by his Spirit.

From Project Gutenberg

But we rather overdid the miasma, so it was abolished by mutual consent.

From Project Gutenberg

Many of the women were adding their cigarette-smoke to the haze settling over all like a gray miasma.

From Project Gutenberg

Miasma has polluted the atmosphere so long that people do not know the feeling of untainted air.

From Project Gutenberg