Abstract: Substituted N-arylindoles, a process for producing them and their use as herbicides. In particular, substituted N-arylindoles of the formula ##STR1## are disclosed in which: R is hydrogen; halogen; nitro; cyano; alkyl; alkoxy; alkenyloxy; alkynyloxy; alkoxyalkyl; carbonylalkoxy; alkyloxyalkoxy; cyanoalkoxy; benzyloxy; alkoxycarbonylalkoxy; alkylcarbonylalkoxy; haloalkyl; hydroxyalkyl; formyl; azido; carboxy or a salt thereof; amino; substituted amino; carboxyamido; substituted carboxyamido; sulfonamido wherein the N is substituted with hydrogen and/or alkyl; or YR.sup.4 wherein Y is O or S(O).sub.m and R.sup.4 is hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cyanoalkyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, hydroxycarbonylalkyl or aminocarbonylalkyl; R.sup.1 is hydrogen, alkyl, halogen, cyano, haloalkyl, alkoxy, or carboxy or a salt thereof; X is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, alkylthio, alkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, haloalkyl or alkoxy; R.sup.3 is hydrogen, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, cyano, halogen, or SO.sub.y R.sup.5 wherein R.sup.