miasma

• Nom désignant une émanation ou une odeur extrêmement désagréable ou nocive, souvent utilisée au sens métaphorique pour évoquer une atmosphère pervasive, délétère ou oppressante.

A noun referring to a highly unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor, often used metaphorically to describe a pervasive, corrupting, or oppressive atmosphere.

1. Unhealthy vaporC1formal

   A highly unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor, historically believed to cause disease.

   Miasme (vapeur malsaine)

   • The swamp emitted a foul miasma that made the villagers ill.
   • A miasma of decay hung over the abandoned house.
   • In medieval times, people thought the miasma from the marshes caused the plague.

   Synonymeseffluviumfetormalariareekstench

2. Oppressive atmosphereC2formal

   A pervasive, oppressive, or unpleasant atmosphere or influence.

   Ambiance oppressante

   • A miasma of corruption surrounded the political regime.
   • The office was filled with a miasma of tension and distrust.
   • A miasma of grief settled over the family after the tragedy.

   Synonymesblightcloudgloompallshadowtaint