Noxious describes something that is harmfulcausing injury, damage, or bad effects, unhealthybad for health; not good for the body or mind, or likely to cause damage. It is often used for substancesmaterials or kinds of matter, especially with particular properties, fumes, or ideas that can harm people or living things.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈnɑkʃəs/
Easy pronunciation: NOK-shəs (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress on the first syllable.
Used as an adjective meaning harmful or injurious to health, body, or mind.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Noxious Meaning
harmful
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: Harmful or damaging to health, body, or mind.
Example: The factory released noxious fumes into the air.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- harmful — A broad, natural substitute in the same sense.
- damaging — Works when the emphasis is on causing harm.
- injurious — A formal synonym that fits the same meaning.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Noxious Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- harmful
- damaging
- injurious
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse noxious with innocuous. They are opposites: noxious means harmful, while innocuous means harmless.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does noxious mean?
Noxious means harmful or damaging to health, the body, or the mind.
What is a simple synonym for noxious?
A simple synonym is harmful.
Is noxious the same as poisonous?
Not exactly. Poisonous means toxic, while noxious is broader and can mean harmful in a general way.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.