FETID Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'fetid' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of fetid are fusty , malodorous , musty , noisome , putrid , rank , and stinking . While all these words mean "bad-smelling," stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting. // prisoners were held in stinking cells // the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

Q: How are the words 'fusty' and 'musty' related as synonyms of 'fetid'?

Both fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age. // a fusty attic // the musty odor of a damp cellar

Q: When would 'malodorous' be a good substitute for 'fetid'?

Although the words malodorous and fetid have much in common, malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive. // malodorous fertilizers

Q: Where would 'noisome' be a reasonable alternative to 'fetid'?

The meanings of noisome and fetid largely overlap; however, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive. // a stagnant, noisome sewer

Q: When can 'putrid' be used instead of 'fetid'?

While the synonyms putrid and fetid are close in meaning, putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter. // the putrid smell of rotting fish

Q: When could 'rank' be used to replace 'fetid'?

In some situations, the words rank and fetid are roughly equivalent. However, rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell. // rank cigar smoke

fetid

adjective

ˈfe-təd

Definition of fetid

as in stinking

having an unpleasant smell that fetid cheese from Belgium is definitely an acquired taste

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fetid distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of fetid are fusty, malodorous, musty, noisome, putrid, rank, and stinking. While all these words mean "bad-smelling," stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells

the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

How are the words fusty and musty related as synonyms of fetid?

Both fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.

a fusty attic

the musty odor of a damp cellar

When would malodorous be a good substitute for fetid?

Although the words malodorous and fetid have much in common, malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

Where would noisome be a reasonable alternative to fetid?

The meanings of noisome and fetid largely overlap; however, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

When can putrid be used instead of fetid?

While the synonyms putrid and fetid are close in meaning, putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

When could rank be used to replace fetid?

In some situations, the words rank and fetid are roughly equivalent. However, rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of fetid The evolutionary advantage of fetid roses was that their odor deterred animal herds that grazed in their habitat. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026 The New York Yankees are dealing with a stinky spring training situation after a sewage leak penetrated their clubhouse and outer hallway, and created pools of fetid water around George Steinbrenner Stadium. — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 22 Feb. 2026 Citizens Energy customers should be on the lookout for a seasonal greeting from the gas and water utility this winter — with a card that is more fetid than festive. — Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 10 Dec. 2025 From the fetid and overcrowded cells of the town’s migrant detention center, officers pick out a Sudanese man who had been arrested the day before. — Mick Krever, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fetid

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fetid

Adjective

America’s political landscape has become a stinking mess.

— Mary Ellen Klas, Boston Herald, 1 June 2026
Not the good, high-altitude ozone that shields us from dangerous UV light, but bad ozone, hovering right above ground level — stinking, brownish, grayish photochemical smog.

— Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026

Definition of stinking

Adjective

Talwani said the case was now ripe for a decision because the USPS had proposed a rule, and the election was closer.

— Nate Raymond, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
With such a glut of quirky comedy coming out of New Zealand, let’s hope this continues for as long as true crime remains ripe for parody.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of ripe

Adjective

This isn't the first time Pappas has been criticized for using foul language.

— Zak Spector, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Portland’s Emily Engstler and the Mercury’s Kahleah Copper traded baskets before Katie Lou Samuelson hit the second of two foul shots with 20 seconds left to put the Fire up 84-82.

— Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of foul

Adjective

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
Double-bag the trash when throwing out wet containers or smelly waste, or bags that are especially heavy.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of smelly

Adjective

In a series distinguished by copious disgusting battle scenes, Ormund co-stars in one of its very grossest—a gross-on-gross-on-gross flambé—and almost gets in one last barf.

— Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
His central characters can be nasty, disgusting, violent, hysterically cruel, and passionately consumed.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of disgusting

Adjective

Knowing divorce is hard on kids is like knowing that water is wet, cigars are stinky, and that Selena Gomez is incapable of acting.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 July 2026
Cushioned insoles create the feeling of bouncing forward with every step, not to mention the mesh outers will eliminate the threat of sweaty, stinky feet.

— Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2026

Definition of stinky

Browse Nearby Words

fetes

fetid

fetidness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fetid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fetid. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of fetid

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on fetid

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

balmy

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes