sulfurous

adjective

sul·​fu·​rous ˈsəl-fə-rəs 

-fyə-,

 also (especially for sense 1a)  ˌsəl-ˈfyu̇r-əs

variants or chiefly British sulphurous

1

a

: of, relating to, or containing sulfur especially with a lower valence than sulfuric compounds

sulfurous esters

b

: resembling or emanating from sulfur and especially burning sulfur

2

a

: of, relating to, or dealing with the fire of hell : infernal

b

: scathing, virulent

sulfurous denunciations

c

: profane, blasphemous

sulfurous language

sulfurously adverb

sulfurousness noun

Is it sulfur or sulphur?: Usage Guide

The spelling sulfur predominates in U.S. technical usage, while both sulfur and sulphur are common in general usage. British usage tends to favor sulphur for all applications. The same pattern is seen in most of the words derived from sulfur.

Examples of sulfurous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The water’s sulfurous smell prevents anyone from actually chugging the stuff. —Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 17 June 2024

The skunk ape, alias swamp ape, apparently smells like bad eggs and goat dung, an odor attributed to its poor bathing habits and penchant for sulfurous alligator caves. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 20 May 2024

Scientists think sulfurous compounds such as sulfur dioxide might have played a key role on early Earth that eventually paved the way for life to form. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024

The New York chef Victoria Blamey, who grew up in Chile, hated cabbage and its sulfurous smell. —Kim Severson, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sulfurous

• sulfurous acid

Kids Definition

sulfurous

adjective

sul·​fu·​rous

variants also sulphurous

ˈsəl-f(y)ə-rəs 

also for sense 1

ˌsəl-ˈfyu̇r-əs 

1

: of, relating to, or containing sulfur

2

a

: of, relating to, or dealing with the fire of hell : infernal

b

: fiery sense 3a, inflamed

a sulfurous sermon

c

: profane sense 2, blasphemous

sulfurous language

Medical Definition

sulfurous

adjective

sul·​fu·​rous

variants or chiefly British sulphurous

ˈsəl-f(y)ə-rəs, also especially for 1 ˌsəl-ˈfyu̇r-əs

1

: of, relating to, or containing sulfur especially with a lower valence than sulfuric compounds

sulfurous esters

2

: resembling or emanating from sulfur and especially burning sulfur