redolent

adjective

red·​o·​lent ˈre-də-lənt 

1

: exuding fragrance : aromatic

2

a

: full of a specified fragrance : scented

air redolent of seaweed

b

: evocative, suggestive

a city redolent of antiquity

redolently adverb

Did you know?

Redolent traces back to the Latin verb olēre ("to smell") and is a relative of olfactory ("of, relating to, or connected with the sense of smell"). In its earliest English uses in the 15th century, redolent simply meant "having an aroma." Today, it usually applies to a place or thing permeated with odors. Scent and memory are famously linked, and an extended use of redolent to mean “evocative” or “suggestive” links them again, as in “lollipops redolent of childhood.”

Synonyms

• fragrant
• aromatic
• scented

Choose the Right Synonym for redolent

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 redolent in a Sentence

my grandmother's house always seemed to be redolent with the aroma of baking bread

Recent Examples on the Web

Attu Kari sukkah is a falling-apart tender lamb in a dark brown curry redolent of warm spices. —Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025

The internet, at this point, still felt redolent with possibility. —Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025

The imprint’s flagship title, which will launch a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign before the end of spring, is Time Sensitive, a mind-bending mystery across the space-time continuum redolent of Christopher Nolan’s Tenet and Marvel Studios’ Loki series. —Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

For older codgers like me who prefer golf clubs to nightclubs, a serene and charming alternative is the city of La Quinta, best known for its incomparable golf courses at PGA West and the historic La Quinta Resort & Club, another redolent whiff of Hollywood’s glorious days gone by. —David Weiss, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin redolent-, redolens, present participle of redolēre to emit a scent, from re-, red- + olēre to smell — more at odor

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

redolent

adjective

red·​o·​lent ˈred-ᵊl-ənt 

1

: aromatic

2

: full of a fragrance or odor : scented

a room redolent of cooked cabbage