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Dictionarynoxiousharmful
adjective

noxious

NAHK-shuhs/ˈnɑːkʃəs/

Harmful to health or well-being.

The bin contains noxious rotting food that makes her recoil.

A middle-aged South Asian woman recoils from a small open kitchen waste bin containing rotting food, pinching her nose and leaning away from the unpleasant odor.
Etymology
noxiousLatinhurtful, injurious

Latin noxius meant “hurtful” and came from noxa, “injury” or “damage.” This underlying idea of causing harm connects the word’s poisonous sense with its broader use for harmful or very unpleasant things.

In context

NOVA PBS Official27:52
That's a really good question. So noxious stimuli is, is a real thing, right? If you stick your hand in boiling water, that's an aversive stimulus.
Your Brain: Perception Deception | Full Documentary | NOVA | PBS

More examples

  • The spill releases noxious chemicals into the river.
  • Farmers remove noxious weeds that can poison their cattle.
  • Poor ventilation allows noxious gases to build up indoors.

Forms

noxious

noxiousness noun — The quality of being harmful or poisonous.

Similar words

harmful
Broader than noxious; applies to physical and nonphysical damage.
toxic
Specifically poisonous; often describes substances that damage living organisms.
injurious
Emphasizes causing injury or damage, not necessarily through poison.