NOXIOUS Synonyms: 217 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

noxious

adjective

ˈnäk-shəs

Definition of noxious next

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in harmful

causing or capable of causing harm noxious smog that for years has been encrusting the historic cathedral with soot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in disgusting

causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment the website reserved the right to remove and report hate speech and other noxious types of postings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Examples 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 In addition to preventing material damage, Wildfire Shield prevents the ill effects of noxious smoke. —

Alison Van Houten, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024 Meanwhile, noxious chemicals from the eruptions or even an uptick in ultraviolet radiation from ozone-destroying chemicals injected into the stratosphere could all have played a role. —

Bypaul Voosen, science.org, 12 Sep. 2024 Little was known of the noxious nature of the fish until this research came out. —

Scott Travers, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 The suit claims the lagoon is the source of a noxious fumes and odors and resulted in economic loss to Spinas, according to a news release issued by the attorneys. —

Randal Seyler, arkansasonline.com, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for noxious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for noxious

Adjective

But left unchecked, fear of failure becomes poisonous.

Mark Kane, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
But the film’s poisonous reviews and disastrous box office all but torpedoed her Oscar hopes this year, and the film was shut out in Monday’s Globe nominations.

Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024