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 But, if this isn’t enough to drive away the predators, the malodorous animals play dead. Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024 The canal still carries sewage, mixed with rainwater, away from the city on a malodorous, 29-mile course. Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 Because each snail yielded little more than a drop of the discharge — a clear, malodorous liquid — some 250,000 were required to produce an ounce of dye, by some accounts. Franz Lidz, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Only modest changes with age were observed and there was no relation between gas production and stool consistency, although stools were more likely to be malodorous when concentrations of H2S and/or CH3SH were high. Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2019 See All Example Sentences for malodorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malodorous
Adjective
  • This is about a team with a top-10 payroll whose GM committed too stinking much of it to dogs that can’t, or won’t, pull the sled.
    Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2019
  • Muttaiah said the man inside the stinking manhole was working without any safety equipment — no gloves, no shoes, no supplemental oxygen.
    Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2019
Adjective
  • Pop in for a splash of their current releases, including the Chehalem Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir with its notes of ripe blackberries and spice.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Yet, with a synopsis drawing equivalence with hit James Norton-starring BBC drama McMafia, which was itself based on a non-fiction book, this one could be ripe for an early option.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The most impressive aspect of Schlesinger’s film is its sense of place: the sunny, awesomely relaxed, fetid warmth captured by Conrad Hall’s sumptuous cinematography.
    Armond White, National Review, 31 Jan. 2025
  • Fascinating and fetid, the Salton Sea in southern California lures me back, every year.
    Dennis Hinkamp, The Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The fourth quarter was not without controversy: With 4:27 left in the game, Rockets guard Amen Thompson was ejected for a flagrant foul 2 against Giannis Antetokounmpo where he got caught in the air trying to contest Antetokounmpo’s shot and then pulled him down by his head.
    Eric Nehm, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Peavy scored 14 points before reaching the foul limit in the Jan. 11 loss to UConn.
    Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • If your plant’s roots or stems are mushy and smelly, your plant may be affected by root rot.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Dec. 2024
  • Before Brummell, the aristocracy dressed in rich, smelly materials; after, styles were adapted from military uniforms—think of the broad shoulders of a British pinstripe suit, for example.
    Gary Shteyngart, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The desire to avoid portraying her character’s actions as simply disgusting led de Van to play the lead role herself, in spite of the challenges that created for her as a first-time feature director.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Selena Gomez has called out 'disgusting' weight shame As a former child star who grew up in the public eye, Gomez has long been subjected to conversations surrounding her weight.
    Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Impacted national park and forest employees say fewer workers will lead to longer lines, filthy bathrooms and unsafe hiking and camping conditions at America's precious public lands.
    Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Between sweat, body oils, dust, dirt, hair, and grime, yoga mats, weights, and treadmills can get pretty filthy.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • To question the sincerity of the president’s rhetoric—and that of his party—is not to dismiss the challenge posed by the various noisome currents of antidemocratic sentiment and behavior running through our politics like the effluence of overflowing sewers.
    Gerard Baker, WSJ, 7 Nov. 2022
  • Performers like Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity, who long ago bartered their integrity and believability for money and ratings, can peddle their noisome pro-Trump propaganda on Fox News.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2022

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Cite this Entry

“Malodorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malodorous. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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