noxious

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'noxious' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective used to describe something that is harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant. Example sentence: The noxious fumes from the factory caused all the nearby residents to suffer from headaches and nausea.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A study published in the journal Food Additives and Contaminents tested 26 non-stick cookware products under extreme conditions and concluded that none of them released any noxious chemicals.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Twelve people were murdered by gunmen at the magazine's offices earlier this year, and PEN's American branch has said that it "deserves to be recognised for its dauntlessness in the face of one of the most noxious assaults on expression in recent memory".

The Guardian - Books

If you're struggling with a noxious state of mind, such as anger or nerves, you can cool yourself down by considering your situation as if you're an onlooker.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He petitioned the home secretary, denouncing graveyards as "laboratories of malaria … so many centres of infection, constantly giving off noxious effluvia".

The Guardian

These fumes do not contain any PFOA and are mostly noxious to pet birds, so if you have a budgie or parrot, then ventilate your kitchen and don't overheat your non-stick pans.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

BofA got a pile of noxious mortgage securities, but also top-notch securities-trading and underwriting businesses, and Merrill's "thundering herd" of brokers and wealth managers, the jewel in its crown.

The Economist

Yet, as she points out, biological processes tend to be non-toxic, low-energy ways to make things, and result in little waste, unlike many conventional manufacturing processes in which batteries are made with noxious materials in energy-intensive factories.

The Economist

The government says she did not know that the people she met were connected to the noxious group.

The Economist

SKELETONS, unexploded bombs and a noxious smell greet visitors to the site in east London that will host the Olympic games four years from now.

The Economist

The atmosphere is mostly noxious carbon dioxide, the pressure at the planet's surface is equivalent to being almost a kilometre under water and the temperature is a roasting 465 °C.On November 9th, the European Space Agency launched its bid to discover why the two planets are so different.

The Economist

If pure hydrogen fuel is used, as may happen in future, there are no noxious emissions at all: the only by-products are water vapour and heat.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing environmental hazards, use "noxious" to specifically highlight the harmful or poisonous nature of pollutants or emissions.

Common error

While "noxious" is a strong and accurate descriptor, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "harmful" or "unpleasant" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "noxious" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that they are harmful, poisonous, or otherwise injurious. Ludwig AI supports this analysis as the term is used to describe harmful substances across various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "noxious" is an adjective used to describe something harmful or injurious. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. While highly descriptive, avoid overuse in informal settings where simpler terms like "harmful" or "unpleasant" may be more appropriate. Consider alternatives like "toxic", "injurious", or "poisonous" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harmful

Direct synonym, indicating something that causes damage or injury.

injurious

Similar to harmful, but often implies a more lasting or severe impact.

toxic

Specifically refers to poisonous substances or effects.

poisonous

Indicates the presence of a substance that can cause illness or death.

deleterious

Describes something that has a detrimental effect.

pernicious

Suggests a subtle but harmful effect, often developing gradually.

unwholesome

Implies something detrimental to physical or moral health.

detrimental

Refers to something that causes harm or damage.

contaminating

Describes something that pollutes or makes impure.

pestilent

Relates to something carrying or causing disease; highly destructive.

FAQs

How to use "noxious" in a sentence?

You can use "noxious" to describe harmful substances or conditions. For example: "The factory released "noxious fumes" into the air."

What can I say instead of "noxious"?

You can use alternatives like "harmful", "toxic", or "poisonous" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "noxious" or "toxic"?

"Noxious" generally refers to something harmful or unpleasant, while "toxic" specifically refers to something poisonous. Both can be correct depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "noxious" and "offensive"?

"Noxious" implies a harmful or poisonous quality, whereas "offensive" suggests something unpleasant or disagreeable to the senses.