musty

29 3.9

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

adjective
/ˈmʌsti/

: mohoso

After months of being closed, the basement had a musty smell that reminded me of old books.
musty smell

So I just wipe over the drum and then the door as well and then leave the door open for a little bit so it doesn't get like too musty or moldy.

Examples

The smell was damp and musty, and Virginia knew a small frisson of anticipation.

Fiction book (1990)
Remember it had that musty old grandma smell.

Scream of the Banshee (2011)
Darling, you know it's so musty in here.

Made in Italy (2020)
Oh, it's a very musty smell coming out of this bowl.
The basement smelled like no one had been in it for years, musty and damp.

Fiction book (1992)
The enclosed shaft smelled damp and musty, as if it were rarely used.

Fiction book (1992)
With it came the odor of musty grasses and melting snow.

Fiction book (1992)
"The house smelled musty and everything was much-worn, but all was neat.

Fiction book (1993)
Smells funky and musty.

The Watch (2012)
Lando opened his visor and found that the cargo carrier's air tasted musty and stale.

Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

smelly

vsmusty

118 1.0

Giving off a strong, unpleasant stink

is more specific about dampness and age as the cause of the smell

stale

vsmusty

54 1.1

No longer fresh and pleasant to eat

is specifically a damp, aged air smell from poor ventilation

moldy

vsmusty

29 2.1

Has soft green or black growth and often smells bad

describes the same aged air smell even without visible decay

vsmusty

29 3.4

Too warm and without fresh air

centres on a damp, aged smell rather than warmth or temperature

stinky

vsmusty

Informal

26 3.8

Very bad or of poor quality

is a milder, specific damp air scent linked to age and closed spaces

dank

vsmusty

18 6.2

An unpleasantly damp, cool place that smells musty

focuses more on the damp, aged air smell rather than temperature

funky

vsmusty

Informal

18 6.9

Has a bad smell

is specifically the damp, aged air scent rather than general dirtiness

stuffy

vsmusty

13 2.7

A room with little fresh air that feels uncomfortable to breathe in

is the same unpleasant air but specifically tied to damp, old smell

foul-smelling

vsmusty

7 4.1

A very strong stink that makes you want to move away

is milder and tied to damp, aged air rather than extreme offense

stinking

vsmusty

4 2.0

Having a very strong bad smell

is milder and specific to damp, aged air rather than intense odor

odiferous

vsmusty

1 8.5

Having a strong smell that is often unpleasant

is tied to damp, old air and not always very strong or distinct

mildewy

vsmusty

1 4.5

Smelling damp and musty, like old books

is the broader damp, stale air scent from age or lack of fresh air

miasmic

vsmusty

1 9.9

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

is a more local damp, aged smell, not a broad toxic atmosphere

unpleasant-smelling

vsmusty

1 3.8

Having a bad smell that people do not like

is more specific, naming a damp, aged air smell from poor ventilation

fusty

vsmusty

9.5

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

is the general damp, stale smell caused by age or poor ventilation

frowsty

vsmusty

Archaic

9.9

Smelling stale and unpleasant because the air is closed and still

is the same old, damp air smell but described simply as a scent

reeking

vsmusty

5.0

Having a very strong bad smell like smoke or rot

is a weaker, gentler damp smell caused by age and poor air

stinkin

vsmusty

Informal

6.1

Giving off a very bad smell

is less intense and more about damp, aged air than raw filth

reechy

vsmusty

Archaic

9.9

Having a strong bad smell that makes you move away

is narrower, referring to a damp, aged scent rather than general foulness

ill-scented

vsmusty

6.3

Having a strong, unpleasant smell

is milder and focuses on damp, aged air rather than open offensiveness

rank-smelling

vsmusty

7.1

Having a very strong, unpleasant smell like rotten food

is different, meaning a damp, aged air smell without spoilage

Antonyms

fresh

314 1.0

Clean air or water that has no harmful things

Compounds

musty smell

2 3.4

A bad, stale smell from damp or old things

musty air

1 4.2

Air that smells stale and damp in a closed room

How Musty

moldy

29 2.1

musty

29 3.9

stale

54 1.1

damp

11 1.0

fresh

314 1.0

Surface Forms

musty positive

Morphology

musty = must (opaque) = must + y

The adjective comes from 'must' in the sense of new wine/stale wine, a rare sense not known to most learners, so the modern meaning 'moldy/stale' is not derivable from the familiar senses of 'must'.

Etymology

Musty comes from the old word must, which meant the fresh juice of grapes or 'new wine' that could quickly turn sour and give a damp smell. So musty now means a 'stale' or 'moldy' smell, like water or old bread left in a closed place.