smellfungus

noun

smell·​fun·​gus

ˈsmelˌfəŋgəs

: a captious critic : faultfinder

Word History

Etymology

after Smelfungus, a hypercritical traveler in A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy (1768) by Laurence Sterne †1768 British novelist, who intended this character to satirize Tobias Smollett †1771 British novelist for his descriptions in Travels through France and Italy (1766)

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!