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fetor

fetor

1 9.9
A strong bad smell that often shows illness or decay
  • noun
  • /ˈfiːtər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fétor
  • Its wrinkled flesh exuded the very fetor that had brought my dizziness, that permeated all this rotting gulf.

Examples

  • As soon as she entered the barn, the fetor of manure filled her nostrils.

  • Inside it's pitch black; the air is hot and wet with the sweet fetor of rotting grass.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • I agree about #28 Victor; he's always showing up in the BC dropping his anti-Israel, anti-Jewish fetor around; I don't know why he thinks he's so welcome at BC when he ain't...

    Blog text (15)
  • The fetor of decay was overwhelming in the abandoned house.

  • After the storm, the fetor of rotting fish from the nearby river was unbearable.

Synonyms

stink
vsfetor
111 1.1

A very bad smell that people dislike

is considered more clinical when the smell suggests sickness or disease
stench
vsfetor
80 3.5

A very bad strong smell that makes you feel sick

is more linked to being a symptom of disease than ordinary bad smells
reek
vsfetor
8 6.1

A strong unpleasant smell like rotten food

is used more when the smell signals illness, not just strong presence
malodor
vsfetor
  • US
1 8.9

A strong unpleasant smell that people find offensive

tends to imply a disease link rather than mere unpleasantness
pestilential smell
vsfetor
  • Literature
9.4

A very strong bad air that makes you think of rotting things or disease

is especially used to signal disease rather than any simple bad smell
mephitis
vsfetor
9.9

A strong, very bad smell that makes people feel sick

is often used when smell suggests illness or medical concern
fetidness
vsfetor
8.4

A very strong unpleasant smell that makes people feel sick

is named for smells that often indicate infection or disease

Antonyms

15 1.0

The state of being new and clean, not stale or spoiled

How Foul

stench
80 3.5
fetor
  • Specialized
1 9.9
odor
  • US
145 1.9
smell
605 1.0
scent
165 1.0

Surface Forms

fetor singular
fetors plural

Etymology

The word fetor comes from Latin fetor, meaning 'bad smell', and is the same idea behind the English word fetid. So a fetor is a strong, unpleasant smell that can even be a sign of disease.