miasmic.

1. Filled with or resembling an unhealthy, foul vapor; often used of a noxious atmosphere.

2. Oppressively heavy or poisonous in mood, as an atmosphere charged with suspicion or corruption.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• miasmic vapor
• miasmic haze
• miasmic atmosphere
• miasmic suspicion

On the page

A miasmic haze hung over the cellar, sour with wet stone and rust.

A miasmic suspicion settled over the household after the ledger disappeared.

Usage notes

Literally evokes foul or unhealthy vapor; figuratively it can describe a pervasive oppressive mood. The old disease theory of miasma is obsolete. Sense 2: Figurative literary use describes a pervasive, oppressive mood; historical miasma theory is obsolete as medical science.