mephitic
Stinking of decay
Mephitic describes air or vapors that are foul-smelling and noxious, especially those rising from the earth—swamp gases, volcanic emissions, or the stench of decay.
The word carries connotations of poison and pestilence: mephitic fumes from the sewer.
It appears mostly in literary or technical contexts, rarely in everyday speech.
Having foul odor
- putridDecomposed and foul-smelling
- malodorousHaving a bad smell
- reekEmit strong odor
- stenchPowerfully offensive odor
rank · sulfurous · foul · rotten · acrid · decaying · musty · miasma
Capable of causing death
- noxiousHarmful, especially when inhaled
- venomousProducing injected toxins
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- deadlyAble to cause expiration
harmful · hazardous · deleterious · pernicious · virulent · contaminated · pestilential · baneful
Harmful to health
- unhealthyHarmful to wellbeing
- corruptDishonest, open to bribes
- squalidExtremely dirty and neglected
- impureNot wholly clean
polluted · unsanitary · miasmic · swampy · stagnant · fetid · marshy · dank
Causing urge to vomit
- disgustingProvoking strong revulsion
- revoltingCausing strong disgust
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
- loathsomeArousing intense disgust
abhorrent · sickening · repellent · vile · foul · stomach-turning · unpleasant · objectionable
fetid
Having foul odor
- putridDecomposed and foul-smelling
- malodorousHaving a bad smell
- reekEmit strong odor
stench · rank · sulfurous · foul · rotten · acrid · decaying · musty · miasma · noisome
poisonous
Capable of causing death
- noxiousHarmful, especially when inhaled
- venomousProducing injected toxins
- lethalCausing or capable of death
deadly · harmful · hazardous · deleterious · pernicious · virulent · contaminated · pestilential · baneful · nocuous
insalubrious
Harmful to health
impure · polluted · unsanitary · miasmic · swampy · stagnant · fetid · marshy · dank · foul
nauseating
Causing urge to vomit
- disgustingProvoking strong revulsion
- revoltingCausing strong disgust
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
loathsome · abhorrent · sickening · repellent · vile · foul · stomach-turning · unpleasant · objectionable · detestable