malodorous

adjective

mal·​odor·​ous ˌmal-ˈō-də-rəs 

1

: having a bad odor

a malodorous mixture of chemicals

2

: highly improper

malodorous practices and chicanery in high financial places

—New Republic

malodorously adverb

malodorousness noun

Synonyms

• fetid
• foul
• frowsty [chiefly British]
• frowsy
• frowzy
• funky
• fusty
• musty
• noisome
• rank
• reeking
• reeky
• ripe
• smelly
• stenchy
• stinking
• stinky
• strong

Choose the Right Synonym for malodorous

malodorous, stinking, fetid, noisome, putrid, rank, fusty, musty mean bad-smelling.

malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells

the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

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

Examples of malodorous in a Sentence

the cellar will need to be cleared of several malodorous piles of garbage

Recent Examples on the Web

Gary Oldman remains as delightful as ever as the malodorous but brilliant Jackson Lamb. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024

Its leaves release a malodorous smell when trod upon and so served as a strewing herb. —Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 20 Apr. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

malodorous

adjective

mal·​odor·​ous (ˈ)mal-ˈōd-ə-rəs 

: having a bad smell

malodorously adverb

malodorousness noun