noisome

IPA/ˈnɔɪsəm/
IPA/ˈnɔɪsəm/

noisome — adjective

  • noisomepositive
  • more noisomecomparative
  • most noisomesuperlative

1. causing strong dislike or disgust through behaviour, remarks, or attitudes that

1.形容詞C1
釋義

causing strong dislike or disgust through behaviour, remarks, or attitudes that most people find completely unacceptable

例句

The politician's noisome remarks about immigrant communities drew widespread anger across the region.

collocation: noisome remarks

Ayesha found the newspaper columnist's noisome attitudes toward women impossible to ignore.

同義詞
  • repulsive

    stronger physical-disgust connotation than noisome; can describe appearance as well as behaviour

  • obnoxious

    more informal and everyday; describes irritating behaviour rather than morally offensive content

  • loathsome

    even stronger than noisome; suggests something that inspires hatred, not just disapproval

  • odious

    close synonym but more common; both are formal and describe things that deserve strong moral condemnation

反義詞
  • admirable

    deserving respect and approval, the opposite of morally offensive

  • decent

    conforming to accepted standards of behaviour

用法筆記

Refers to moral or social offensiveness, not physical disgust. Distinguish from sense 2 (FOUL-SMELLING), which describes actual sensory revulsion, especially to bad smells.

常見錯誤

❌The noisome children ran around the restaurant screaming.
✅The noisy children ran around the restaurant screaming.
💡despite the similar spelling, 'noisome' has nothing to do with sound or loudness; the word you want is 'noisy.'
❌I could not concentrate because of the noisome traffic outside my window.
✅I could not concentrate because of the noisy traffic outside my window.
💡'noisome' means deeply offensive or foul-smelling, not 'making noise.'

2. having an extremely unpleasant smell that makes people feel sick or want to move

2.形容詞C1
釋義

having an extremely unpleasant smell that makes people feel sick or want to move away from it

例句

Nicholas held his breath as he walked past the noisome alley behind the fish market.

collocation: noisome alley

The noisome stench from the broken sewer pipe drove every family on the street outdoors.

同義詞
  • malodorous

    a more scientific-sounding synonym; both are formal, but malodorous is more clinical

  • fetid

    specifically describes the smell of decay or rot; stronger and narrower than noisome

  • putrid

    emphasises rotting organic matter as the source; more intense and specific

  • rank

    more informal and versatile; can describe any strong, unpleasant smell

反義詞
  • fragrant

    having a pleasant, sweet smell

  • aromatic

    having a strong, pleasant smell, often used for food and spices

用法筆記

The most concrete and specific sense of noisome — always refers to smell, not sight or sound. Distinguish from sense 1 (DEEPLY OFFENSIVE), which describes morally or socially offensive behaviour.

常見錯誤

❌The noisome colours of the painting made me look away.
✅The garish colours of the painting made me look away.
💡'noisome' describes bad smells, not visually unpleasant things; use 'garish,' 'hideous,' or 'ugly' instead.