fragrant

adjective

fra·​grant ˈfrā-grənt 

: having a sweet or pleasant smell

fragrantly adverb

Synonyms

• aromatic
• scented

Choose the Right Synonym for fragrant

odorous, fragrant, redolent, aromatic mean emitting and diffusing scent.

odorous applies to whatever has a strong distinctive smell whether pleasant or unpleasant.

odorous cheeses should be tightly wrapped

fragrant applies to things (such as flowers or spices) with sweet or agreeable odors.

a fragrant rose

redolent applies usually to a place or thing impregnated with odors.

the kitchen was redolent of garlic and tomatoes

aromatic applies to things emitting pungent often fresh odors.

an aromatic blend of tobaccos

Examples of fragrant in a Sentence

The soup was fragrant with herbs and spices.

the balsam fir is a favorite as a Christmas tree because it is so fragrant

Recent Examples on the Web

Superb red snapper with herb butter, mushroom ravioli, peas and steamed asparagus was a little overloaded, but a branzino fillet dusted with summer’s fragrant herbs came with roasted delicata squash and potatoes moistened with olive oil. —John Mariani, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025

Named after the Italian island of Capri, a Caprese salad is composed of just a few key ingredients: ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and fragrant basil, drizzled with olive oil and lightly seasoned with salt and black pepper. —Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 16 July 2025

The classic combination of salty cheese, fragrant basil, toasted pine nuts, and snappy olive oil is undeniably loveable. —Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 July 2025

Most moon gardens are small, with fragrant plants grown both in-ground and container-grown. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin fragrant-, fragrans, from present participle of fragrare to be fragrant

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fragrant

• flagrant
• vagrant

Kids Definition

fragrant

adjective

fra·​grant ˈfrā-grənt 

: having a sweet or agreeable smell

fragrantly adverb