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ill-smelling

ill-smelling

1 4.4
That has a strong, unpleasant odor
  • adjective
  • /ˈɪlˈsmɛlɪŋ/
translation icon : maloliente
  • Lian told Maks that the only thing remarkable about her planet, aside from its rich lodes of metals and natural radioactives, was the fact that the ill-smelling, ferocious creatures called Darksiders.

Examples

  • Garth produced an ill-smelling salve that they used to coat their faces and arms, a shield against bites and stings.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The huge, ill-smelling, heavily armed beasts looked over his back, ready to destroy him or anybody else if Xian gave the kill signal.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • A very small, ill-smelling barn.

  • By contrast, even the ill-smelling streets are delightful, and we escape.

    Blog text (22)
  • Their crude remarks lingered near the virtual ceiling like clouds of ill-smelling gas.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • In some cases, Chazal instructed us to treat an item as being malodorous even if we do not necessarily consider it particularly ill-smelling.

    Blog text (23)
  • This class includes situations where one removes the ill-smelling matter from the room, yet some vestigial odor remains.

    Blog text (23)
  • The garbage bin was overflowing and gave off an ill-smelling odor that made everyone gag.

  • After the rain, the ill-smelling stagnant water attracted many flies in the neighborhood.

  • He wrinkled his nose at the ill-smelling fish left out in the sun.

Synonyms

smelly
vsill-smelling
118 1.0

Giving off a strong, unpleasant stink

is a more formal or descriptive way to report the same smell
stinky
vsill-smelling
60 1.0

Having a very bad smell

is the neutral descriptive term suitable for formal use
foul
vsill-smelling
24 3.0

Having a very bad smell or taste

focuses only on bad smell rather than taste or general offense
yucky
vsill-smelling
  • Informal
22 6.8

Not pleasant to taste or smell

restricts the idea to unpleasant smell rather than general disgust
funky
vsill-smelling
  • Informal
18 6.9

Has a bad smell

is the straightforward descriptive phrase without slangy flavor
offensive
vsill-smelling
15 5.3

Having a bad smell or taste that bothers you

focuses only on an unpleasant smell rather than other sensory discomfort
fetid
vsill-smelling
8 7.9

A very strong, bad smell like rotten food or trash

is the everyday way to say something smells bad, less clinical
foul-smelling
vsill-smelling
7 4.1

A very strong stink that makes you want to move away

is similar but can be used in milder everyday contexts
malodorous
vsill-smelling
4 8.2

Having a very bad smell that people dislike

is a more general everyday term for the same smell
noisome
vsill-smelling
1 9.9

A very strong, unpleasant smell that can make you ill

covers unpleasant smell without implying health danger
odiferous
vsill-smelling
1 8.5

Having a strong smell that is often unpleasant

is focused only on unpleasantness rather than distinctiveness or strength
distasteful
vsill-smelling
1 4.8

Having an unpleasant taste or smell

is stronger and focused specifically on offensiveness of smell
unsavory
vsill-smelling
  • US
1 6.5

Something that smells or tastes bad

is purely sensory, referring only to an unpleasant odor
unpleasant-smelling
vsill-smelling
1 3.8

Having a bad smell that people do not like

is the same idea but slightly more formal and old fashioned
ill-scented
vsill-smelling
6.3

Having a strong, unpleasant smell

is more common and neutral in modern everyday speech
rank-smelling
vsill-smelling
7.1

Having a very strong, unpleasant smell like rotten food

is broader and does not always suggest rotten or rancid smell
rank
vsill-smelling
6.7

Having a very strong unpleasant smell or taste

focuses on smell alone without stressing taste or strength
reeking
vsill-smelling
5.0

Having a very strong bad smell like smoke or rot

describes the unpleasant smell state without stressing ongoing emission
reechy
vsill-smelling
  • Archaic
9.9

Having a strong bad smell that makes you move away

is the general term focusing on unpleasant smell without strength detail
stinkin
vsill-smelling
  • Informal
6.1

Giving off a very bad smell

is the standard term without slangy or emphatic tone
niffy
vsill-smelling
  • UK
9.9

Smelling strongly of something unpleasant

is the common neutral label understood across varieties of English

Antonyms

34 2.2

Having a pleasant smell like flowers or soap

1 4.3

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

How Smelly

putrid
12 7.0
fetid
8 7.9
ill-smelling
1 4.4
smelly
118 1.0
musty
29 3.9

Surface Forms

ill-smelling positive

Morphology

ill-smelling = ill + smell (transparent) = ill + smell + ing

Formed by combining 'ill' (bad) with 'smell' (with participle '-ing'), so the meaning 'bad-smelling' is directly derivable.

Etymology

Ill-smelling joins ill- meaning 'bad' or 'sick' and smelling from 'smell'. A helpful way to remember it is to think of a smell so bad it could make you feel 'ill', which is why it means 'having an unpleasant or offensive smell'.