miasma

American  

[mahy-az-muh, mee-] / maɪˈæz mə, mi- /

noun

plural

miasmas, miasmata

1. noxious exhalations from putrescent organic matter; poisonous effluvia or germs polluting the atmosphere.

2. a dangerous, foreboding, or deathlike influence or atmosphere.

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miasma British  

/ mɪˈæzmə, ˌmiːəzˈmætɪk /

noun

1. an unwholesome or oppressive atmosphere

2. pollution in the atmosphere, esp noxious vapours from decomposing organic matter

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Other Word Forms

• miasmal adjective
• miasmatic adjective
• miasmatical adjective
• miasmic adjective
• unmiasmal adjective
• unmiasmatic adjective
• unmiasmatical adjective
• unmiasmic adjective

Etymology

Origin of miasma

1655–65; < New Latin < Greek míasma stain, pollution, akin to miaínein to pollute, stain

Example Sentences

That perfection of air and climate that lured filmmakers here in the first place was being lost in a brown miasma.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Few writers since Henry James can create an atmosphere of doubt around events and character as effectively as this author does, and in “Venetian Vespers” the miasma thickens at every turn.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

It was a couple of weeks after the great smog had brought London to a standstill, and although that particularly foul miasma had dispersed, smog still regularly reduced visibility.

From BBC • Dec. 30, 2024

Maddow then segued into a more comprehensive discussion about the rule of law, which she argued was not an abstract "miasma" but rather, is "specific stuff."

From Salon • May 7, 2024

In a terrible miasma of dog smell, which gripped him with fear and called “Run! Run!” down every nerve, he crept forward to where the eye bolt was screwed into the roof.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams