SULPHUROUS
Dictionary entry overview: What does sulphurous mean?
• SULPHUROUS (adjective)
The adjective SULPHUROUS has 3 senses:
1. of or related to or containing sulfur or derived from sulfur
2. harsh or corrosive in tone
3. characterized by oppressive heat and humidity
Familiarity information: SULPHUROUS used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• SULPHUROUS (adjective)
Meaning:
Of or related to or containing sulfur or derived from sulfur
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Synonyms:
sulfurous; sulphurous
Pertainym:
sulphur (an abundant tasteless odorless multivalent nonmetallic element; best known in yellow crystals; occurs in many sulphide and sulphate minerals and even in native form (especially in volcanic regions))
Meaning:
Harsh or corrosive in tone
Synonyms:
vitriolic; caustic; blistering; acid; acrid; acerb; venomous; sulphurous; sulfurous; acerbic; virulent; bitter
Context examples:
an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose / a barrage of acid comments / her acrid remarks make her many enemies / bitter words / blistering criticism / caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics / a sulfurous denunciation / a vitriolic critique
Similar:
unpleasant (disagreeable to the senses, to the mind, or feelings)
Meaning:
Characterized by oppressive heat and humidity
Synonyms:
stifling; sultry; sulfurous; sulphurous
Context examples:
the summer was sultry and oppressive / the stifling atmosphere / the sulfurous atmosphere preceding a thunderstorm
Similar:
hot (used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning)
