Noisome-Noisy | Commonly Confused Words
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Master confusing words with ease

Noisome vs. Noisy

Noisome

/ˈnɔɪs(ə)m/
Something that is very unpleasant and often has a bad smell.

Examples:

The noisome garbage made the alley almost unbearable.Passengers complained about the noisome odor in the subway car.An open manhole emitted a noisome stench that filled the street.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Noisy

/ˈnɔɪzi/
Making a lot of loud or unpleasant sound.

Examples:

Nobody could have had a noisier Christmas Eve.'Yes, and the strikers are very noisy.'He wrote that he was sending Fergusson a "noisy" poem.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Noisome is related to something unpleasant, usually referring to smell, whereas noisy is related to sounds.
  • Both words might seem to involve noise, but noisy refers directly to loud sounds, and noisome originally stems more from unpleasant smells.
  • Noisy is easy to remember because it contains noise, so it's about sound.
  • Noisome may mislead because it appears to relate to noise due to the prefix noi-, but it actually pertains to something harmful or offensive, especially an odor.
  • When thinking about noisome, connect it with annoying smell, to remember its meaning better.
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