SMELL Synonyms: 267 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'smell' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of smell are aroma , odor , and scent . While all these words mean "the quality that makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense," smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character. // an odd smell permeated the room

Q: When is it sensible to use 'aroma' instead of 'smell'?

The meanings of aroma and smell largely overlap; however, aroma suggests a somewhat penetrating usually pleasant odor. // the aroma of freshly ground coffee

Q: How are the words 'odor' and 'smell' related?

Odor may imply a stronger or more readily distinguished scent or it may be equivalent to smell . // a cheese with a strong odor

Q: When could 'scent' be used to replace 'smell'?

Although the words scent and smell have much in common, scent applies to the characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant. // the scent of lilacs

smell 1 of 2

verb

ˈsmel

Definition of smell

as in to sniff

to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose we smelled the aroma of freshly baked cookies as soon as we walked in the house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to sense

to have a vague awareness of I smell something fishy about this situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to suck

to be objectionable or unsatisfactory that movie smells—I wouldn't waste my money on it if I were you

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rule
rock

smell

2 of 2

noun

as in scent

the quality of a thing that makes it perceptible to the sense organs in the nose the smell of vanilla is supposed to be very soothing

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in hint

a very small amount the pie has barely a smell of ginger, but lots of cinnamon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in aura

a special quality or impression associated with something a law firm with a mahogany-lined boardroom that has the discernible smell of money and power

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun smell contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of smell are aroma, odor, and scent. While all these words mean "the quality that makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense," smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character.

an odd smell permeated the room

When is it sensible to use aroma instead of smell?

The meanings of aroma and smell largely overlap; however, aroma suggests a somewhat penetrating usually pleasant odor.

the aroma of freshly ground coffee

How are the words odor and smell related?

Odor may imply a stronger or more readily distinguished scent or it may be equivalent to smell.

a cheese with a strong odor

When could scent be used to replace smell?

Although the words scent and smell have much in common, scent applies to the characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant.

the scent of lilacs

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 smell

Verb

The candle smells of cereal, milk and lemon and is intended to recall the days of watching Saturday morning cartoons and summer. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026 These shoes even boast a moisture-wicking, anti-odor sock liner to keep them—and your feet—smelling fresh, even after hours of sightseeing. — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 10 Oct. 2026

Noun

Essential Oils Want a custom scent for your floors that isn’t your typical lemon smell? — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 2026 The breakthrough underpins modern drug development, because mirror-image versions of the same molecule can behave differently in the body — and can even produce different smells. — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for smell

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smell

Verb

The buck walked up to the dripper, sniffed it for a moment, and moved on.

— Colin Moore, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Sid is smart enough to sniff this out, and the show seizes the opportunity to raise the romantic stakes through an adorably British expression of mutual libidinousness.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of sniff

Noun

Tyler placed it between us with an elegant flourish; the steam carried the scent of glorious-secret spices.

— Larry Padgett, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
The second-place winner was fragrance house French Cowboy, which was founded in 2025 by Ashley Santiago and Adrien Ollat, and collaborates with different creatives on the scents.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of scent

Noun

That question motivated Clark to better understand aging among plants and animals and to look for hints to extend humans' lifespan.

— KYLE MELNICK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Until this glorious fall Saturday afternoon gave way to the hints of early evening, Indiana football — once the losingest team in all of college football — hadn’t tasted their ordinary helping of defeat for 666 days.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of hint

Noun

The house offered symbolically fitting elements to the book‘s story and close proximity to the water, while also offering both a menacing and calm aura.

— Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
This changes when moving off-center past about 30 degrees, at which point the objects show a wide aura around them.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of aura

Verb

The music on Uncle feels innate, as if Funkhouser had dug these songs out from deep within the crawlspace in his brain.

— Jeff Yerger, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
Few people feel affection for insurance companies or hospital bureaucracies that often function less as providers of care than as barriers to it.

— Scott Levenson, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of feel

Browse Nearby Words

smears

smell

smelled

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Style

“Smell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smell. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of smell

verb

noun

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