noxious, tenuous, fatuous, olfactory, opulent: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Word Master set 73. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. noxious · adjective/ˈnɑk.ʃəs/

   harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant

   The factory released noxious fumes into the air, making it hard to breathe.

   Synonyms: harmful, poisonous, dangerous

   Origin: from Latin 'noxius', meaning 'harmful' or 'hurtful'

2. tenuous · adjective/ˈtɛnjuəs/

   lacking a strong basis or connection

   Her connection to the project was tenuous, as she had only joined the team recently.

   Synonyms: weak, flimsy, insubstantial

   Origin: Late Latin 'tenu' meaning 'thin' or 'slender'

3. fatuous · adjective/ˈfætʃuəs/

   silly and pointless

   The fatuous comments made during the meeting did not help solve the problem.

   Synonyms: silly, foolish, absurd

   Origin: from Latin 'fatuus', meaning 'foolish' or 'silly'

4. olfactory · adjective/oʊlˈfæktəri/

   relating to the sense of smell

   The olfactory senses of dogs help them detect scents that humans cannot.

   Synonyms: smell, aromatic, scented

   Origin: from Latin 'olfactorius', from 'olfactus', meaning 'smelling'

5. opulent · adjective/ˈɑːpjələnt/

   characterized by wealth or luxury

   The opulent mansion had beautiful gold decorations and large, fancy rooms.

   Synonyms: rich, luxurious, lavish

   Origin: from Latin 'opulentus' meaning 'wealthy, rich'