Words / C2

NOYS-uh-m/ˈnɔɪsəm/

Noisome means disgusting, especially of a smell, and in older use harmful (literary): a noisome odour, noisome conditions. Smelly is everyday; noxious (this batch) is the harm cousin. Noisy (already in the dictionary) is the classic lookalike — noisome is not loud. Do not call a required extraction fan noisome to dodge the health minute.

Meaning

Very unpleasant, especially of a smell; also harmful (literary).

Examples

• “A noisome store-cupboard is still a health item, not a joke in the minutes.”
• “Smelly is everyday. Noxious is harmful (this batch). Innocuous is harmless (already in C2). Noisy is loud (already in A1) — a trap. A drain can be noisome and still be the right agenda item. A joke about the smell is not the inspection.”

Good to know

Foul-smelling; also harmful (literary). Everyday: smelly. Cousin: noxious (this batch). Mix-up: noisy. A smell can be a health finding.

Near in meaning

smelly

New