smelly

adjective

ˈsme-lē 

smellier; smelliest

: having a smell

especially : malodorous

smelly socks

Synonyms of smelly

• stinking
• stinky
• ripe
• malodorous
• foul
• disgusting
• filthy
• fetid
• rotting
• reeking
• musty
• rotted
• strong
• fusty
• dirty

Examples of smelly in a Sentence

I don't like smelly cheese.

your smelly sneakers are enough to raise the dead

Recent Examples on the Web

The duo wants to be there for the good, the bad, and the questionably smelly while sprinkling some happy-go-lucky magic over all of it. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026

Instead, here’s how to make your house smell good with these tricks to tackle smelly odors in your home and promote pleasant scents. — Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2026

Through the trading company Suzuki Shoten, the smelly oil was originally exported to Europe, where it was turned into a solid, odorless fat through a process called hydrogenation. — Pei-Hsu Lin, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026

Use the water and hydrogen peroxide solution to rinse out smelly garbage cans. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for smelly

• belly
• deli
• jelly
• kellie
• melly
• nellie
• nelly
• shelly
• skelly
• smellie
• tele
• telly

Kids Definition

smelly

adjective

ˈsmel-ē 

smellier; smelliest

: having a smell and especially a bad smell

smelly socks