French word

nuisible

Pronunciation

IPA/nɥizibl/

Meaning

  • adjectiveharmful

Example

Les produits chimiques peuvent être nuisibles s'ils sont mal stockés.

Chemical products can be harmful if they are improperly stored.

Illustration for nuisible (harmful)

More examples

Fumer est nuisible pour la santé.

Smoking is harmful to health.

Core concept

A damaging presence that makes a person, object, or environment worse.

Common phrases

  • être nuisible

    be harmful

  • substance nuisible

    harmful substance

Similar words

nocif: Having harmful effects on health or the environment.
dangereux: Posing a risk of accidents or physical injury.

Definition in French

Qui a un effet négatif et provoque une dégradation ou un dommage.

Word origin

Nuisible is a derivative of French nuire, itself descended from Latin nocēre, while -ible marks what can produce the verb's effect.

Usage tips

  • In nuisible, ui is pronounced like French /ɥi/, the s is voiced like z, and the final e is silent.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word