Noxious
mediumNegative toneNOK-shus
adjective
Definition
Harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant
Memory hook
NOXIOUS fumes are OBNOXIOUS to your lungs — harmful and poisonous.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The factory released noxious fumes into the air.”
“Noxious weeds threatened to overtake the garden.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The factory released ______ fumes into the air.”
Show answer
noxious
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Noxious is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "toxic" or "pernicious" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "harmless".
Related GRE Words
injurious
Causing or likely to cause damage or harm
baneful
Causing harm or ruin; pernicious; destructive
destructive
Causing great damage or harm; highly damaging
pernicious
Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way
detrimental
Tending to cause harm; damaging
deleterious
Causing harm or damage; injurious
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