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smelly

smelly

118 1.0
Giving off a strong, unpleasant stink
  • adjective
  • /ˈsmɛli/
translation icon : maloliente
  • In any case, he would be glad to see the last of this smelly, damp room.
  • messy and smelly

I'm going to wear this stained, smelly shirt to the gym.

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Examples

  • My clothes were tattered and smelly; nothing as nice as her smell, either.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Or one of those really smelly French cheeses that ooze out everywhere when you cut them.

  • Our house starts to get a little smelly after he finally emerged from the bathroom.

  • I'm going to be really smelly by the end of this day.

  • We can all agree no one likes that smelly garbage that attracts fruit flies and ants.

  • It smells like somebody's old, smelly feet.

  • His pajamas were soaked and smelly, and he had been shivering and hungry.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The old refrigerator gave off a smelly odor that filled the kitchen.

  • After playing soccer, his shoes were smelly and needed to be washed.

  • The compost heap became smelly after weeks of neglect in the backyard.

Synonyms

stinky
vssmelly
60 1.0

Having a very bad smell

covers both strong and unpleasant smells in general
musty
vssmelly
29 3.9

A stale, slightly damp smell like old things kept without fresh air

is the plain term for any strong or unpleasant smell
foul
vssmelly
24 3.0

Having a very bad smell or taste

focuses simply on having a strong or unpleasant smell
yucky
vssmelly
  • Informal
22 6.8

Not pleasant to taste or smell

is the focused term for specifically strong or unpleasant odors
pungent
vssmelly
18 4.8

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

is the simple term for strong or unpleasant smelling things
funky
vssmelly
  • Informal
18 6.9

Has a bad smell

is the neutral, common term for strong or unpleasant odor
fetid
vssmelly
8 7.9

A very strong, bad smell like rotten food or trash

is the neutral name for strong or unpleasant odour
foul-smelling
vssmelly
7 4.1

A very strong stink that makes you want to move away

is the wider everyday description for bad or strong odor
stinking
vssmelly
4 2.0

Having a very strong bad smell

is the general term for strong or unpleasant odor
noisome
vssmelly
1 9.9

A very strong, unpleasant smell that can make you ill

is used more generally for any strong or unpleasant smell
skunky
vssmelly
1 7.6

Smelling very bad like a skunk

is the general word for any strong or unpleasant smell
odiferous
vssmelly
1 8.5

Having a strong smell that is often unpleasant

is the common phrase covering strong or unpleasant odors
unsavory
vssmelly
  • US
1 6.5

Something that smells or tastes bad

is the more general term for strong or unpleasant smell
mildewy
vssmelly
1 4.5

Smelling damp and musty, like old books

is the general expression for strong or unpleasant odors
1 3.8

Having a bad smell that people do not like

is the broad everyday term for strong or unpleasant odor
ill-smelling
vssmelly
1 4.4

That has a strong, unpleasant odor

is the general label for strong or unpleasant smelling things
strong-smelling
vssmelly
1 3.5

Gives off a strong smell that you notice quickly

adds that the smell can be specifically unpleasant as well
stinkin
vssmelly
  • Informal
6.1

Giving off a very bad smell

is the broader label for strong or unpleasant smelling things
reeking
vssmelly
5.0

Having a very strong bad smell like smoke or rot

labels strong or unpleasant smells without stressing spread
rank
vssmelly
6.7

Having a very strong unpleasant smell or taste

is the general description for strong or unpleasant odor
rank-smelling
vssmelly
7.1

Having a very strong, unpleasant smell like rotten food

describes bad or strong smells without implying rot
reechy
vssmelly
  • Archaic
9.9

Having a strong bad smell that makes you move away

is the general term that includes such strong unpleasant smells
ill-scented
vssmelly
6.3

Having a strong, unpleasant smell

is the wider term for any strong or unpleasant smell
strong-scented
vssmelly
3.7

Having a very strong smell that you notice easily

highlights that such intense smells are often unpleasant too
fusty
vssmelly
9.5

Having a stale, stuffy smell as if it has not been aired

is the general label that covers such unpleasant old smells

Antonyms

34 2.2

Having a pleasant smell like flowers or soap

Having a pleasant scent

1 4.3

A plant or substance with a strong, pleasant smell used in cooking

How Smelly

reeking
5.0
smelly
118 1.0
odorless
  • US
11 3.0

Surface Forms

smelly positive
smellier comparative
smelliest superlative

Morphology

smelly = smell (transparent) = smell + y

The suffix '-y' is added to 'smell' to form an adjective meaning 'having a smell'.

Etymology

Smelly comes from the noun smell plus the ending -y, which makes a word mean 'full of' or 'having'. So, think 'full of smell' to remember that smelly means having a strong or unpleasant smell.