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malodorous

malodorous

4 8.2
Having a very bad smell that people dislike
  • adjective
  • /ˌmælˈoʊdərəs/
translation icon : maloliente
  • Clearly, the wind-producing beans were a malodorous scourge upon our household.
  • malodorous ulcers

Examples

  • I continued walking through blackberries and malodorous herbs.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Since most dumpsters are malodorous, many poskim contend that we should treat them like toilets or potties.

    Blog text (23)
  • - Am I malodorous in any way?

  • I give you five minutes, exactly five minutes for you and your malodorous riffraff to get out of town!

  • Crawling on the malodorous floor, I stumbled against a piece of hard metal.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Garbage collects in huge, malodorous piles and often contains excrement.

    Academic text (2016)
  • "Changing everything these days," he muttered, looking at a malodorous heap of dirty clothing that sprawled in the center of the cottage floor.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • I saw the giant's back and smelled his malodorous top hat of poorly tanned beaver hide from several yards away.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Dirty, malodorous items of clothing flowed out of open drawers, mold blossomed in spray cans, a sooty

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The malodorous smell from the dumpster made it hard to breathe.

Synonyms

smelly
vsmalodorous
118 1.0

Giving off a strong, unpleasant stink

is slightly more formal and neutral than this casual description
stinky
vsmalodorous
60 1.0

Having a very bad smell

is the formal alternative used in writing and neutral speech
yucky
vsmalodorous
  • Informal
22 6.8

Not pleasant to taste or smell

is the formal neutral label for an offensive smelling thing
pungent
vsmalodorous
18 4.8

Having a strong, sharp smell or taste that can be unpleasant

means offensive smell more generally, without the sharp or stimulating tone
funky
vsmalodorous
  • Informal
18 6.9

Has a bad smell

is the neutral formal term used in more careful speech
fetid
vsmalodorous
8 7.9

A very strong, bad smell like rotten food or trash

is a broader label for offensive smell, not only extreme cases
foul-smelling
vsmalodorous
7 4.1

A very strong stink that makes you want to move away

covers offensive smells generally, not only the most extreme ones
stinking
vsmalodorous
4 2.0

Having a very strong bad smell

is the general term for unpleasant odor without stressing extreme strength
noisome
vsmalodorous
1 9.9

A very strong, unpleasant smell that can make you ill

refers only to offensive smell without the added health implication
odiferous
vsmalodorous
1 8.5

Having a strong smell that is often unpleasant

is the focused term meaning offensive smell without implying distinctiveness
distasteful
vsmalodorous
1 4.8

Having an unpleasant taste or smell

is the specific term for offensive smell rather than general displeasure
unsavory
vsmalodorous
  • US
1 6.5

Something that smells or tastes bad

is the straightforward descriptor for offensive smell without social nuance
unpleasant-smelling
vsmalodorous
1 3.8

Having a bad smell that people do not like

is the single-word formal label rather than a hyphenated phrase
ill-smelling
vsmalodorous
1 4.4

That has a strong, unpleasant odor

is the more formal, single-word expression for the same idea
miasmic
vsmalodorous
1 9.9

Full of a strong bad smell that makes the air feel unhealthy

focuses on offensive smell but not the unhealthy or vaporous quality
ill-scented
vsmalodorous
6.3

Having a strong, unpleasant smell

is the formal single-word version used in neutral contexts
rank
vsmalodorous
6.7

Having a very strong unpleasant smell or taste

is the neutral term for unpleasant smell without extra disgust tone
reeking
vsmalodorous
5.0

Having a very strong bad smell like smoke or rot

is the general descriptor for any offensive smelling presence
reechy
vsmalodorous
  • Archaic
9.9

Having a strong bad smell that makes you move away

is the neutral single-word term for unpleasant smelling things
miasmatic
vsmalodorous
9.9

Smelling bad and making the air feel heavy and unhealthy

describes bad smell alone without implying an oppressive air or health risk
rank-smelling
vsmalodorous
7.1

Having a very strong, unpleasant smell like rotten food

is the neutral label for offensive smell without implying rancidity
mucid
vsmalodorous
9.9

Having a slimy or musty smell like old mold

is the general term for offensive smell without the moldy texture focus
niffy
vsmalodorous
  • UK
9.9

Smelling strongly of something unpleasant

is the neutral term used across varieties of English without slang tone

Antonyms

34 2.2

Having a pleasant smell like flowers or soap

11 3.0

Not having any smell

How Smelly

putrid
12 7.0
fetid
8 7.9
malodorous
4 8.2
smelly
118 1.0

Surface Forms

malodorous positive

Morphology

malodorous = odorous (transparent) = mal + odor + ous

Formed by adding the prefix 'mal-' to the adjective 'odorous', giving the clear meaning 'having a bad smell'.

Etymology

Malodorous comes from two parts: mal- meaning 'bad' and odor meaning 'smell', so it literally means 'bad-smelling'. Think of mal- as in malfunction and odor as in 'odor' or 'odour', which helps explain why malodorous describes something that smells awful.