noxious thoughts

USAGE SUMMARY

"noxious thoughts" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to thoughts that are harmful, damaging, or destructive. Example: He tried to push away the noxious thoughts that had taken over his mind.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

On most sites – from YouTube to local newspapers – comments are a place where the most noxious thoughts rise to the top and smart conversations are lost in a sea of garbage.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I thought bad thoughts.

BMC Palliative Care

When I asked him whether he had any reservations about Spitzer's character, or worried that significant numbers of viewers (such as this one) thought of him as noxious and, on principle, unwatchable, he didn't answer directly, saying, "As soon as we see the actual show" — it will début in early October — "viewers will find out that it's the kind of show that cable has been missing".

The New Yorker

A revitalization of the language of the common good would allow progressives -- whether secular or religious -- to confront the more noxious elements of Randian right-wing thought.

Huffington Post

The gate control model highlights the role that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can play in influencing the transmission of noxious signals from the periphery to the brain [ 51].

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

It is from this standpoint that we find him here dismissing Arnold Toynbee as "a noxious humanitarian" and sneering at John Middleton Murry as "this apostle of suburban free thought".

The Guardian - Books

Some accounts about visiting Ground Zero or hanging out with firemen have a noxious, self-dramatizing quality; you can feel the self-congratulatory frisson the authors are experiencing at the thought that they are witnessing history firsthand.

The New York Times - Books

Osgood called these practices "noxious".

The New Yorker

I'm noxious.

The New York Times - Science

"The smell is pretty noxious.

Independent

A noxious prank?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "noxious thoughts" to vividly describe thoughts that are not only unpleasant but also actively harmful or corrupting. This emphasizes their potential to cause damage.

Common error

Avoid using "noxious thoughts" in everyday conversation or informal writing. Its strong connotation of harm is best reserved for situations where the thoughts are genuinely destructive or dangerous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "noxious thoughts" functions primarily as a noun phrase modified by an adjective. The adjective "noxious" as pointed out by Ludwig, intensifies the noun "thoughts", indicating that these thoughts are not merely unpleasant but actively harmful or corrupting.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "noxious thoughts" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe harmful or damaging ideas. As highlighted by Ludwig, this phrase, while not exceedingly common, carries a strong connotation of harm and is best reserved for contexts where the thoughts are genuinely destructive. Ludwig's AI confirms the phrase's usability and suggests its suitability for formal contexts, although overuse in casual settings should be avoided. Related phrases like "harmful ideas" or "destructive thinking" can serve as alternatives depending on the intended nuance. Ultimately, "noxious thoughts" effectively conveys the severe negativity associated with particular thought patterns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harmful ideas

Replaces "thoughts" with "ideas", shifting the focus slightly from the act of thinking to the content of those thoughts, and "noxious" with "harmful" which is a synonym.

toxic ideas

Replaces "thoughts" with "ideas" and uses "toxic" as a synonym for "noxious" to emphasize the poisonous effect.

negative ideas

Substitutes "thoughts" with "ideas" and "noxious" with "negative" to express undesirable concepts.

poisonous ideas

Replaces "thoughts" with "ideas" and "noxious" with "poisonous" to emphasize a harmful or dangerous quality.

destructive thinking

Changes "thoughts" to "thinking", emphasizing the process, and replaces "noxious" with "destructive", highlighting the damaging effect.

corrosive thoughts

Replaces "noxious" with "corrosive", suggesting a gradual, destructive impact on the mind.

detrimental thoughts

Substitutes "noxious" with "detrimental", indicating a negative impact or disadvantage resulting from the thoughts.

damaging beliefs

Replaces "thoughts" with "beliefs", focusing on convictions, and "noxious" with "damaging", highlighting potential harm.

unwholesome thoughts

Substitutes "noxious" with "unwholesome", indicating a morally or spiritually corrupting influence on thinking.

pernicious thoughts

Replaces "noxious" with "pernicious", suggesting a subtle but gradual and harmful effect.

FAQs

How can I use "noxious thoughts" in a sentence?

You can use "noxious thoughts" to describe harmful, damaging, or destructive thoughts. For example: "He struggled to banish the "noxious thoughts" that plagued his mind after the accident."

What is a good alternative to "noxious thoughts"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "harmful ideas", "negative ideas", or "destructive thinking".

What makes "noxious thoughts" different from "negative thoughts"?

"Noxious thoughts" implies a more potent and damaging quality than simply "negative thoughts". "Noxious" suggests that the thoughts are actively harmful or corrupting, while "negative" is a more general term for unpleasant or undesirable thoughts.

Is "noxious thoughts" a formal or informal expression?

"Noxious thoughts" leans towards a more formal register due to the intensity of the word "noxious". It's suitable for academic writing, news reports, and serious discussions, but may be less appropriate in casual conversations.