[nox.ious] adj [ME noxius, fr. L, fr. noxa harm; akin to L nocere to harm, nec-, nex violent death, Gk nekros dead body] (15c) 1 a: physically harmful or destructive to living beings "~ wastes that poison our streams" b: constituting a harmful influence on mind or behavior: morally corrupting "~ doctrines"
2: distasteful, obnoxious syn see pernicious -- nox.ious.ly adv -- nox.ious.ness n