What does noisome mean?
Noisome is an adjective meaning foul-smelling or deeply offensive. Its most traditional use is for an odor that is unpleasant enough to provoke disgust or nausea, as in a noisome smell or a noisome odor. It can also be used figuratively for people, places, conditions, or ideas regarded as morally repugnant, dangerous, or profoundly harmful. The word has an elevated, literary tone and is less common in casual conversation, where writers might instead say foul, revolting, or awful. Its strong negative force makes it particularly useful for descriptions intended to leave a vivid impression of physical or moral disgust. Although it may evoke unpleasantness more generally, noisome retains a close association with the sense of smell.
adjectiveHaving an offensive or foul smell; figuratively, deeply unpleasant, objectionable, or harmful.
- Having an offensive, foul, or repulsive smell.
- Figuratively, so objectionable, harmful, or morally repugnant as to evoke disgust.
"A noisome odor drifted from the abandoned building."
"The fish had begun to give off a noisome smell."
"The novel exposes the noisome effects of corruption and greed."
Noisome can describe a smell so offensive that it makes the air itself seem unpleasant.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does noisome come from?
Noisome developed in medieval English through forms associated with Old French and ultimately Latin roots meaning harm or injury. The word belongs to the same broad etymological family as noxious, obnoxious, and innocuous, all of which relate to the Latin verb nocere, meaning to harm. Its modern sense developed from older meanings involving harmfulness or offensiveness toward the senses.
How noisome is actually used
Noisome is literary and relatively uncommon in everyday speech. It is stronger than merely unpleasant and can describe either a disagreeable odor or something figuratively loathsome.
Easily confused with noisome
Noisome means foul-smelling or deeply objectionable, whereas noisy means making a loud sound or full of sound.