noxious
Adjective
Medium difficulty
What does “noxious” mean?
adjective.harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant.
SAT Usage
this term often appears in passages related to environmental issues, health, or toxic substances. It emphasizes the severity and danger of harmful effects, distinguishing itself from similar words like "harmful" by implying a more intense or insidious quality, often suggesting a pervasive threat to well-being or safety.
Common Confusions
Noxious implies a severe and insidious threat to health or safety, while harmful usually suggests a more general or less intense degree of detrimental effects.
Do not choose noxious if the context emphasizes pleasantness or safety rather than being harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant.
Example Sentences
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Workers wore masks to avoid the noxious factory fumes.
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Noxious fumes forced the workers to evacuate.