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pleasant-smelling

pleasant-smelling

3.0
Having a nice scent
  • adjective
  • /ˈplɛzəntˌsmɛlɪŋ/
translation icon : fragante
  • After baking the cookies, the kitchen was filled with a pleasant-smelling aroma of chocolate and vanilla.

Examples

  • One may not recite a bracha in certain areas that usually have bad odors, even if they are presently clean and pleasant smelling.

    Blog text (23)
  • The pleasant-smelling flowers filled the garden with a delightful fragrance.

  • She opened the window to let in the pleasant-smelling breeze from the blooming lilacs.

Synonyms

sweet
vspleasant-smelling
81 1.0

Having a pleasant smell like flowers

is the general label for any agreeable odor, not only specific floral or sugary kinds
fragrant
vspleasant-smelling
34 2.2

Having a pleasant smell like flowers or soap

is broader, covering any agreeable odor not only natural sweetness
scented
vspleasant-smelling
13 2.3

A thing like soap or a candle that has a pleasant smell because perfume was added

refers generally to any pleasing odor, not only when a scent is added
aromatic
vspleasant-smelling
12 4.1

Having a strong, pleasant smell like spices or flowers

is milder and simply covers any agreeable odor rather than strong scents
perfumed
vspleasant-smelling
5 4.1

Has a pleasant smell from perfume or flowers

is broader, including pleasant natural odors as well as added fragrances
sweet-smelling
vspleasant-smelling
4 2.3

Having a pleasant scent

is more general, meaning any agreeable odor rather than a marked scent
sweet-scented
vspleasant-smelling
1 3.0

Having a pleasant sweet smell

is broader, applying to any pleasing odor, not only natural fragrance
odoriferous
vspleasant-smelling
  • Formal
8.5

Having a pleasant smell like flowers or spices

is more neutral and everyday, not as formal or distinctive in tone
oloroso
vspleasant-smelling
8.7

Having a strong, pleasant smell like fresh bread or flowers

is the gentler term for any pleasing smell, not necessarily strong
honey-scented
vspleasant-smelling
3.7

Having the sweet smell of honey

is the general term for any agreeable odor, not a single specific smell

Antonyms

A very strong stink that makes you want to move away

Having a bad smell that people do not like

How Fragrant

aromatic
1 4.3
fragrant
34 2.2
scented
13 2.3
pleasant-smelling
3.0
odorless
  • US
11 3.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

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

Formed by combining 'pleasant' and 'smell' (with the participial suffix '-ing'), the meaning 'having a pleasant smell' is directly inferable.

Etymology

The word pleasant-smelling comes from pleasant, which is related to please meaning 'to make happy', and smelling, from smell meaning 'to have an odor', so it literally means a smell that 'pleases' you and is therefore a nice or agreeable scent.