malodorous

adjective

ˌmal-ˈō-də-rəs How to pronounce malodorous (audio)
Definition of malodorousnext
as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell the cellar will need to be cleared of several malodorous piles of garbage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word malodorous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of malodorous are fetid, fusty, musty, noisome, putrid, rank, and stinking. While all these words mean "bad-smelling," malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

How do fusty and musty relate to one another, in the sense of malodorous?

Both fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.

a fusty attic
the musty odor of a damp cellar

In what contexts can noisome take the place of malodorous?

The synonyms noisome and malodorous are sometimes interchangeable, but noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

When can putrid be used instead of malodorous?

The words putrid and malodorous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

When would rank be a good substitute for malodorous?

In some situations, the words rank and malodorous are roughly equivalent. However, rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

How are the words stinking and fetid related as synonyms of malodorous?

Both stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells
the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of malodorous However, these newer deodorants marketed as whole-body deodorants often do a good job at deodorizing the areas that create malodorous smells. — ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026 Democrats are an eye-watering 26 points underwater while Republicans are a more mildly malodorous 11 points beneath the surface. — Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 17 Oct. 2025 Midsummer is usually when sargassum, the floating seaweed that often washes up in malodorous piles on Florida beaches, starts to wane. — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025 Callery pear and Bradford pear trees are considered malodorous, according to the Spruce, a home and garden site. — Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for malodorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malodorous
  1. stinking
  2. ripe
  3. fetid
  4. smelly
  5. foul
  6. stinky
  7. disgusting
  8. filthy
Adjective
  • America’s political landscape has become a stinking mess.
    — Mary Ellen Klas, Boston Herald, 1 June 2026
  • Not the good, high-altitude ozone that shields us from dangerous UV light, but bad ozone, hovering right above ground level — stinking, brownish, grayish photochemical smog.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of stinking
Adjective
  • Their ripe fruit can fall and stain sidewalks and patios, so make sure the tree has plenty of room away from those areas in your yard.
    — Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 1 Sep. 2026
  • It can be made year-round, substituting in whatever fruit is available, ripe and delicious.
    — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of ripe
Adjective
  • However, the Mariners play in the AL West, a fetid swamp of baseball disappointment.
    — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The Lineage warehouse fire, which erupted a mile away nearly two months ago, still blankets the church every morning with the fetid stench of millions of pounds of rotting food that have yet to be trucked away.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of fetid
Adjective
  • Through the trading company Suzuki Shoten, the smelly oil was originally exported to Europe, where it was turned into a solid, odorless fat through a process called hydrogenation.
    — Pei-Hsu Lin, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Double-bag the trash when throwing out wet containers or smelly waste, or bags that are especially heavy.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of smelly
Adjective
  • The ball rolled all the way into the Rays’ bullpen in foul territory while Taylor sprinted to third.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The rotting food has drawn swarms of flies and rats with a foul rancid smell that Boyle Heights residents have said kept them indoors, and business owners have said kept customers away.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of foul
Adjective
  • These repellents are made of stinky smells and bad flavors that deer do not like, like potassium sorbate, whole egg solids, thyme oil, garlic, and sodium lauryl sulfate.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Garbage cans can be smelly and gross, but flies love them thanks to their rotting food and stinky smells.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of stinky
Adjective
  • There is real hope of a postseason push, with the disgusting state of the American League leaving the door open for any team that dares to play well.
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • This whole situation is discriminatory, disgusting, and quite frankly, Orwellian.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of disgusting
Adjective
  • People were filthy in so many ways, so Mike really wrote that in.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026
  • While sinks can become filthy from soap splatters and dirty hands, toilets need cleaning for very different reasons.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of filthy

Browse Nearby Words

malodor
malodorous
malodorousness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Malodorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malodorous. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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