smellier; smelliest
: having a smell
especially : malodorous
smelly socks

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Once cool, pour it into a spray bottle and lightly mist the smelly surfaces. Cody Godwin, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025 Your smelly trash could also attract ants and other pests. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025 Your Towels Have a Lingering Odor Towels can become smelly for many different reasons. Amanda Lauren, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2025 The smelly, hairy animals with terrible eyesight are actually a type of mammal known as a collared peccary. Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for smelly

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of smelly was in 1862

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Smelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smelly. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

smelly

adjective
smellier; smelliest
: having a smell and especially a bad smell
smelly socks

More from Merriam-Webster on smelly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!