fragrant

adjective fra·grant \ ˈfrā-grənt \

Definition of fragrant

:having a sweet or pleasant smell

—

fragrantly

adverb

See fragrant defined for English-language learners

See fragrant defined for kids

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 of fragrant from the Web

A honeysuckle fragrant Pinot Gris ($14.48) and a juicy Sauvignon Blanc ($13.48) were pleasant, but nothing special.

— elin mccoy, Bloomberg.com, "Are the Wines from Costco, Amazon, or Hyatt Any Good? A Taste Test," 31 July 2017
Once the coconut becomes fragrant and acquires a tan, remove from the heat.

— kristen hartke, sacbee.com, "Avocado has a sweet side, and it’s delicious," 4 July 2017
Purple, fragrant carpets of the flower in the former Lake Mills are alive with white-crowned sparrows, nesting and singing.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "At Elwha River, forests, fish and flowers where there were dams and lakes," 3 July 2017
Stir until the garlic is fragrant, 30 to 40 seconds.

— nick kindelsperger, star-telegram.com, "‘Bangkok’ brings the flavors of the bustling city to life," 27 June 2017
Growing cut flowers in your garden Discuss ways to create an attractive, fragrant and sustainable garden.

— Washington Post, "Alexandria-Arlington community calendar, June 22-29, 2017," 23 June 2017
Add whole spices -- cinnamon, black cardamom, black peppercorns and cloves -- and cook, stirring, until fragrant, a minute or two.

— ann maloney, NOLA.com, "Aloo Gosht, or Pakistani goat and potato stew recipe," 21 June 2017
The air was soft and fragrant, with a mixture of the garden, aftershave, Bain de Soleil, and possibility.

— lisa birnbach, HWD, "When Poolside Phone Calls Were the Ultimate Status Symbol at the Beverly Hills Hotel," 19 June 2017
The event will include fragrant teas, food, waiters, prizes and entertainment in a kooky, congenial atmosphere.

— Rancho Bernardo, "Ed Brown Center hosting June 25 'Mad Hatter's Tea Party'," 16 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fragrant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of fragrant

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

fragrant Synonyms

Synonyms

ambrosial, aromatic, perfumed, redolent, savory (also savoury), scented, sweet

Antonyms

fetid, foul, malodorous, noisome, putrid, rancid, rank, reeking, reeky, skunky, smelly, stenchful, stenchy, stinking, stinky, strong

Related Words

flowery, fruity, pungent, spicy; odiferous, odored, odoriferous, odorous; clean, fresh, pure

Near Antonyms

odorless, unscented; fusty, musty, stale; gamy (or gamey)

Synonym Discussion of fragrant

odorous, fragrant, redolent, aromatic mean emitting and diffusing scent. odorous applies to whatever has a strong distinctive smell whether pleasant or unpleasant.