fume
7 synonyms for fume, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A strong-smelling or harmful gas or vapor.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A strong-smelling or harmful gas or vapor.
“Paint fumes filled the newly renovated room.”
How to use fume
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
toxic fumes
fume with anger
exhaust fumes
Etymology
From Old French fum, "smoke," from Latin fumus, "smoke, vapor" — related to the English word "dust."
Full origin of fume →Frequently asked questions
What does “fume” mean?
The word “fume” means a strong-smelling or harmful gas or vapor. In plain terms, as a noun, a smelly or dangerous vapor; as a verb, either giving off vapor or being furious.
How do you pronounce “fume”?
“Fume” is pronounced fyoom (/fjuːm/ in IPA).
How do you use “fume” in a sentence?
Here is “fume” used in a sentence: “Paint fumes filled the newly renovated room.”
What part of speech is “fume”?
Depending on how it is used, “fume” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “fume” come from?
The word “fume” comes from Latin. From Old French fum, "smoke," from Latin fumus, "smoke, vapor" — related to the English word "dust.".
How many meanings does “fume” have?
“Fume” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a strong-smelling or harmful gas or vapor.
