noisome

1 9.9

A very strong, unpleasant smell that can make you ill

adjective
/ˈnɔɪsəm/

: nocivo

The noisome smell from the garbage made it hard to breathe.
noisome and foul

Examples

The earth is a swarming confusion of scents, and quite a few of them are noisome.

Fiction book (2000)
-And from the noisome pestilence.

Everybody Loves Jenifa (2024)
It is a noisome thing we have brought into the world.

Blog text (2)
The crowd cringed outward from him in rings, like punch into which a noisome object had been dropped.

Fiction book (1995)
Of course, the occupant is an aristocrat who finds the poor very irritating, noisome, and in the way.

Blog text (31)
Across the road and below the embankment's edge, the Thames drifted past, a constant, noisome token of the collapse of good intentions.

Blog text (4)
After spending time near the noisome waste, the workers began to feel sick.
The noisome odor of spoiled food filled the air, causing everyone to wrinkle their noses.

Synonyms

smelly

vsnoisome

118 1.0

Giving off a strong, unpleasant stink

is an unpleasant smell that may also harm health rather than just being noticeable

stinky

vsnoisome

60 1.0

Having a very bad smell

is an unpleasant smell that may also harm health rather than just being strong

sickening

vsnoisome

50 5.1

That causes a strong feeling of wanting to vomit or of disgust

is an unpleasant smell that can also harm health instead of only causing sickness

foul

vsnoisome

24 3.0

Having a very bad smell or taste

is mainly about an unpleasant smell that can also be harmful

noxious

vsnoisome

19 7.8

Harmful to health or strongly unpleasant to the senses

is focused on an unpleasant smell that can also harm health

pungent

vsnoisome

18 4.8

Having a strong, sharp smell or taste that can be unpleasant

is an unpleasant smell that may also harm health rather than simply sharp

funky

vsnoisome

Informal

18 6.9

Has a bad smell

is an unpleasant smell that may also harm health rather than only seeming odd

offensive

vsnoisome

15 5.3

Having a bad smell or taste that bothers you

is specifically an unpleasant smell that may also harm health rather than general offense

nauseating

vsnoisome

14 5.1

Making people feel sick or want to throw up

is an unpleasant smell that may also harm health rather than only causing nausea

fetid

vsnoisome

8 7.9

A very strong, bad smell like rotten food or trash

is about a very unpleasant smell that may also harm health

foul-smelling

vsnoisome

7 4.1

A very strong stink that makes you want to move away

is similar but often suggests a greater risk to health

stinking

vsnoisome

4 2.0

Having a very strong bad smell

is about an unpleasant smell that may also harm health not only strength

malodorous

vsnoisome

4 8.2

Having a very bad smell that people dislike

is mainly an unpleasant smell that can also harm health

nauseous

vsnoisome

3 4.4

A smell or taste that makes you feel sick

is an unpleasant smell that may also harm health rather than only causing nausea

odiferous

vsnoisome

1 8.5

Having a strong smell that is often unpleasant

is an unpleasant smell that may also harm health rather than merely being distinctive

unsavory

vsnoisome

1 6.5

Something that smells or tastes bad

is an unpleasant smell that may also harm health rather than only taste

miasmic

vsnoisome

1 9.9

Full of a strong bad smell that makes the air feel unhealthy

is a very strong unpleasant smell that can also harm health

unpleasant-smelling

vsnoisome

1 3.8

Having a bad smell that people do not like

is an unpleasant smell that may also harm health and be more serious

ill-smelling

vsnoisome

1 4.4

That has a strong, unpleasant odor

is about a smell that can also harm health rather than merely smelling bad

reeking

vsnoisome

5.0

Having a very strong bad smell like smoke or rot

is focused on an unpleasant smell that can also pose health risks

rank

vsnoisome

6.7

Having a very strong unpleasant smell or taste

is about an unpleasant smell that can also harm health

rank-smelling

vsnoisome

7.1

Having a very strong, unpleasant smell like rotten food

is centered on an unpleasant smell that may also harm health

reechy

vsnoisome

Archaic

9.9

Having a strong bad smell that makes you move away

is focused on an unpleasant smell that can also be harmful to health

ill-scented

vsnoisome

6.3

Having a strong, unpleasant smell

is an unpleasant smell that may also harm health rather than only offend people

niffy

vsnoisome

9.9

Smelling strongly of something unpleasant

is an unpleasant smell that may also harm health rather than merely being noticed

Antonyms

pleasant

314 1.0

Giving a gentle feeling of enjoyment

wholesome

71 3.1

Helps your body and mind stay healthy

How Foul

putrid

12 7.0

noisome

1 9.9

foul

24 3.0

smelly

118 1.0

odorous

1 5.5

Surface Forms

noisome positive

Etymology

Noisome is not related to noise; it comes from an old word meaning 'harm' or 'annoyance', so a helpful way to remember it is to think of noxious. That's why a noisome smell is both very unpleasant and possibly harmful.