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as in poisonous
bad for the well-being of the body mixing bleach and ammonia can cause noxious fumes that can seriously harm you

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word noxious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of noxious are baneful, deleterious, detrimental, and pernicious. While all these words mean "exceedingly harmful," noxious applies to what is both offensive and injurious to the health of a body or mind.

noxious chemical fumes

When is it sensible to use baneful instead of noxious?

The words baneful and noxious can be used in similar contexts, but baneful implies injury through poisoning or destroying.

the baneful notion that discipline destroys creativity

When would deleterious be a good substitute for noxious?

In some situations, the words deleterious and noxious are roughly equivalent. However, deleterious applies to what has an often unsuspected harmful effect.

a diet found to have deleterious effects

When could detrimental be used to replace noxious?

While the synonyms detrimental and noxious are close in meaning, detrimental implies obvious harmfulness to something specified.

the detrimental effects of excessive drinking

When might pernicious be a better fit than noxious?

The meanings of pernicious and noxious largely overlap; however, pernicious implies irreparable harm done through evil or insidious corrupting or undermining.

the claim that pornography has a pernicious effect on society

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of noxious Our endorsement was also fueled by Fine’s utterly noxious behavior. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025 Now, residents worry that the home air filters newly provided by San Diego County won’t be enough to curb the noxious air from the rising river. Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024 No sunlight ever penetrated its depths, and the air is a noxious brew of toxic gases. Scott Travers, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025 In the early 2000s, investigators documented a stew of noxious chemicals that remained at the factory property, among them 1,4-dioxane, which turned out to spread more widely than the other chemicals. Kevin Spear, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for noxious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for noxious
Adjective
  • Nitrogen oxides are poisonous gases that help form lung-damaging soot particles, which can travel hundreds of miles.
    Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025
  • After the poisonous snowfall begins, Salvo sets out to rescue his daughter, Clara, who was on a boat at the beginning of the attack.
    Caroline Blair, People.com, 6 May 2025
Adjective
  • Along the way, it is divulged that Saw has not been protecting himself with a gas mask from the harmful rhydonium fumes.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 2 May 2025
  • These are among the many casualties of the Trump administration's decision to level a research agency that has devoted much of its energy over the past five decades to reducing people's exposure to harmful chemicals and other dangerous conditions in the workplace.
    Will Stone, NPR, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • Police call fake GoFundMe page 'disgusting' Concord Police Capt. Brian Goldman said police are investigating.
    Norman Miller, USA Today, 7 May 2025
  • But where was the anger from Erik Spoelstra in his post-game news conference about this disgusting performance?
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • According to the European Parliament, the fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global industrial water contamination, largely due to toxic dyes and runoff from textile production.
    Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025
  • Heavy trucks still clog roads, and residents worry about toxic dust and soil, and about hazardous waste being dumped into local landfills.
    Francine Kiefer, Christian Science Monitor, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • Maddison is responsible for dropping deep and pinging passes into dangerous areas, while Kulusevski and Bergvall are excellent ball-carriers.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 12 May 2025
  • In the movie, Cruise’s Ethan Hunt must face his most dangerous enemy yet in the form of an AI known as the Entity.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • The series between the Warriors and the Rockets was slow, low scoring, and ugly—which is exactly how the younger, less experienced Rockets wanted it.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 11 May 2025
  • This wasn’t the first time Green was subjected to ugly behavior from opposing fans.
    Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • The unhealthful effects of autocracy remain robust even when accounting for economic differences and when excluding Venezuela and its collapsing health-care system.
    Thomas J. Bollyky, Foreign Affairs, 30 Jan. 2020
  • However, communities in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains were still experiencing unhealthful air quality, according to the air district.
    Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • The result is potential adverse effects on the health, cognition, and well-being of older users and missed opportunities for support.
    Diana Spehar, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
  • Sometimes this can be dangerous and cause serious adverse effects.
    Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Noxious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/noxious. Accessed 15 May. 2025.

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