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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 Furthermore, their droppings attracted flies and generated noxious odors, which fouled the otherwise refreshing Mackinac air. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 June 2025 The first-term San Diego assembly member is MAGA to his marrow, bringing Donald Trump’s noxious politics and personal approach to Sacramento. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025 Those living and working near the river valley have reported symptoms such as headaches, nausea, fatigue and respiratory irritation after being exposed to noxious odors caused by hydrogen sulfide. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025 Garlic mustard is a problem in dozens of states, considered an invasive species in some, a noxious weed in others. Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for noxious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for noxious
Adjective
  • Erin Patterson has been found guilty of murdering three relatives with poisonous mushrooms following a trial that has gripped the world.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 July 2025
  • The atmosphere in the Rockies’ clubhouse is not toxic, unlike Chicago’s, which reportedly was poisonous for much of last season.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • One of the most common and harmful examples is the Social Security Administration phishing scam, which targets unsuspecting individuals with alarming and deceptive messages.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2025
  • Our students and their families will suffer because of the harmful provisions in this bill.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 3 July 2025
Adjective
  • Danny DeVito, who plays the hilarious and disgusting Frank Reynolds on Always Sunny, used to be married to a fellow comedy legend, Rhea Perlman.
    Allison DeGrushe Published, EW.com, 9 July 2025
  • July 7, 2025 Homa included another message from a fan that is far too disgusting to even reiterate.
    Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • Besides the Gitmo prosecution, which will now resume — assuming the U.S. Supreme Court doesn’t side with KSM — also continuing is the agony for people whose health was damaged by the toxic cloud that rose over New York when the World Trade Center fell.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 July 2025
  • This felt therapeutic, an antidote to the toxic diet of overly personal information that we are fed daily by our phones.
    Guy Trebay, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • Other symptoms can include itching, swelling, and a throbbing pain that radiates up the affected limb, according to Cleveland Clinic. Types Of Jellyfish To Look Out For According to Coffey, the U.S. is home to more than 9,000 species of jellyfish, and only about 100 are considered dangerous.
    Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 11 July 2025
  • Making Their Lives Too Easy Wealth without work creates a dangerous illusion.
    Anatoly Iofe, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Confirmation bias rears its ugly head, and the person convinces themselves that AI sentience is at hand.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • And by sharing the ugly parts, she's made golf feel more human.
    Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • The change comes amid concerns about fireworks causing unhealthful air.
    Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • Possible issues associated with consuming too much of the spice include allergic reactions (that can range from mild irritation to serious symptoms), stomach pain and potential adverse interactions with medications such as blood thinners.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 11 July 2025
  • Earth’s magnetic field naturally protects living things and Earth-orbiting satellites from most adverse effects of space weather.
    Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, The Conversation, 11 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Noxious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/noxious. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.

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