unbreathable
Impossible to breathe
Unbreathable describes air or an atmosphere that cannot sustain respiration, either because it lacks sufficient oxygen or contains toxic substances.
The smoke made the air in the building unbreathable.
The term applies literally to environments like space or underwater, and figuratively to oppressively polluted or stifling conditions.
The tension in the room was so thick the atmosphere felt unbreathable.
Lacking fresh air
- humidContaining much moisture
- swelteringExtremely hot, uncomfortably so
- muggyUnpleasantly warm and humid
- oppressiveUnjustly harsh or stifling
close · unventilated · airless · suffocating · smothering · heavy · thick · stagnant
Death from oxygen loss
- hypoxiaInsufficient tissue oxygenation
- anoxiaAbsence of oxygen supply
- gaspingBreathing in sharp gulps
- chokingBlocked airway condition
suffocation · breathlessness · dyspnea · oxygen deprivation · respiratory distress · wheezing · panting · air hunger
Capable of causing death
- noxiousHarmful, especially when inhaled
- mephiticPoisonously foul-smelling
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- chemicalSubstance with defined composition
gas leak · chlorine · ammonia · hydrogen sulfide · mustard gas · nerve agent · asbestos · formaldehyde
Sunlight-activated urban pollution
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- particulatesMinute airborne solids or droplets
- exhaustUse up entirely
- fumesAirborne chemical irritants
industrial · contaminated · soot · haze · smoke · diesel · factory · urban
Absence of matter
- spaceUnoccupied area or interval
- voidWithout legal effect
- oxygenlessHaving no O2
- exosphereAtmosphere's outermost region
moon · mars · extraterrestrial · decompression · altitude · thin · lifeless · barren
stuffy
Lacking fresh air
- humidContaining much moisture
- swelteringExtremely hot, uncomfortably so
- muggyUnpleasantly warm and humid
oppressive · close · unventilated · airless · suffocating · smothering · heavy · thick · stagnant · hot
asphyxiation
Death from oxygen loss
choking · suffocation · breathlessness · dyspnea · oxygen deprivation · respiratory distress · wheezing · panting · air hunger · cyanosis
poisonous
Capable of causing death
- noxiousHarmful, especially when inhaled
- mephiticPoisonously foul-smelling
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
chemical · gas leak · chlorine · ammonia · hydrogen sulfide · mustard gas · nerve agent · asbestos · formaldehyde · sarin
smog
Sunlight-activated urban pollution
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- particulatesMinute airborne solids or droplets
- exhaustUse up entirely
fumes · industrial · contaminated · soot · haze · smoke · diesel · factory · urban · wildfire
vacuum
Absence of matter
- spaceUnoccupied area or interval
- voidWithout legal effect
- oxygenlessHaving no O2
exosphere · moon · mars · extraterrestrial · decompression · altitude · thin · lifeless · barren · depressurized
unbreathablebreathable
Permits air passage
fresh · clean · respirable · fresh air · pure
breath, breathe, breathing, breathtaking, breathless, breathy, breathable, shortness of breath, out of breath