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noisome

adjective
noi·​some | \ ˈnȯi-sÉ™m How to pronounce noisome (audio) \

Definition of noisome

1 : noxious, harmful a noisome pestilence
2a : offensive to the senses and especially to the sense of smell noisome garbage
b : highly obnoxious or objectionable noisome habits
Other Words from noisome Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about noisome

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Other Words from noisome

noisomely adverb
noisomeness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for noisome

malodorous, stinking, fetid, noisome, putrid, rank, fusty, musty mean bad-smelling. malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive. malodorous fertilizers stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting. prisoners were held in stinking cells the fetid odor of skunk cabbage noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive. a stagnant, noisome sewer putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter. the putrid smell of rotting fish rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell. rank cigar smoke fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age. a fusty attic the musty odor of a damp cellar

Did You Know?

Noisome sounds like it might be a synonym of noisy, but it's not. Something noisome is disgusting, offensive, or harmful, often in its smell. Noisome does not come from "noise," but from the Middle English word noysome, which has the same meaning as noisome. The noy of noisome means "annoyance," and comes from Anglo-French anui, which also means "annoyance." (As you may have already guessed, the English words annoy and annoyance are also related to noisome.)

Examples of noisome in a Sentence

it's no fun having asthma and living in an area with noisome smog a noisome remark about my weight that stuck with me for days

Recent Examples on the Web

 Farmers agreed to reduce the emissions of the country’s noisome pigs. — The Economist, "Costly climate measures are hard to sell, but the Netherlands has a plan," 9 July 2019 When asked to share a story about the worst moment in his career, Griffin talked about yet another interaction with a noisome audience member. — Nina Metz, chicagotribune.com, "My worst moment: 'I'm Dying Up Here's' Erik Griffin and throwing a chair at an out-of-control audience member," 5 June 2018 This, of course, is a very Patriot way of dealing with a noisome issue from outside the stadium. — Charles P. Pierce, SI.com, "Ricky Jean-Francois Knows What the Patriots and Haiti Have in Common," 15 Jan. 2018 This is much more of an insult’ Venezuelan protesters are using a new and noisome weapon against the government: jars filled with their own feces. — Andrew Rosati, Bloomberg.com, "Venezuelans Hurl Jars of Feces to Protest Maduro," 10 May 2017 This is much more of an insult’ Venezuelan protesters are using a new and noisome weapon against the government: jars filled with their own feces. — Andrew Rosati, Bloomberg.com, "Venezuelans Hurl Jars of Feces to Protest Maduro," 10 May 2017 There’s a terrible coyness about scurvy because it was supposed to be, and was, a filthy, noisome disease. — National Geographic, "A Nightmare Disease Haunted Ships During Age of Discovery," 15 Jan. 2017 The sleazy policy at the heart of this noisome deal is the bank’s insistence that any customer with a dispute must bring that dispute to arbitration, not to a courtroom. — Michael Hiltzik, latimes.com, "No surprise: Wells Fargo is leveraging its arbitration clause to win an advantageous scandal settlement," 31 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'noisome.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of noisome

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for noisome

Middle English noysome, from noy annoyance, alteration of anoi, from Anglo-French anui, from anuier to harass, annoy — more at annoy

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More Definitions for noisome

noisome

adjective
How to pronounce noisome (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of noisome

formal + literary : very unpleasant or disgusting

See the full definition for noisome in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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More from Merriam-Webster on noisome

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for noisome

Spanish Central: Translation of noisome

Nglish: Translation of noisome for Spanish Speakers

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