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

Clean Your Washing Machine Front-loading washers can develop smelly odors from mold and mildew growth caused by detergent and fabric softener residue and body soil left inside the washer drum and rubber door seals. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 July 2026

As the day goes on, these smelly specimens will close back up and collapse, losing their infamously rotten odor. — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

During hot weather, if your trash often contains wet food scraps that quickly become smelly, like vegetable peels, produce, leftovers, meat, or fish, clean the bin every two weeks. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 July 2026

There's a smelly situation on the beach in Provincetown, Massachusetts after thousands of squid washed up on shore. — Neal Riley, CBS News, 8 June 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