FUSTY Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of fusty are fetid , malodorous , musty , noisome , putrid , rank , and stinking . While all these words mean "bad-smelling," 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 can 'malodorous' be used instead of 'fusty'?

While the synonyms malodorous and fusty are close in meaning, malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive. // malodorous fertilizers

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

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

Q: When is it sensible to use 'putrid' instead of 'fusty'?

The synonyms putrid and fusty are sometimes interchangeable, but putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter. // the putrid smell of rotting fish

Q: When would 'rank' be a good substitute for 'fusty'?

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

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

Both stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting. // prisoners were held in stinking cells // the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

fusty

adjective

ˈfə-stē

Definition of fusty

as in ripe

having an unpleasant smell couldn't stay too long in the fusty attic without sneezing

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How is the word fusty distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of fusty are fetid, malodorous, musty, noisome, putrid, rank, and stinking. While all these words mean "bad-smelling," 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 can malodorous be used instead of fusty?

While the synonyms malodorous and fusty are close in meaning, malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

Where would noisome be a reasonable alternative to fusty?

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

a stagnant, noisome sewer

When is it sensible to use putrid instead of fusty?

The synonyms putrid and fusty are sometimes interchangeable, but putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

When would rank be a good substitute for fusty?

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

rank cigar smoke

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

Both stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells

the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

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 fusty The strategy has worked—the film is doing well at the box office—but Chalamet’s energy has vibed uncomfortably with the fusty atmosphere of awards-season campaigning, where glad-handing with showbiz retirees and eating rubber chicken at galas is still very much the norm. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026 Little girls in fusty dresses tend to a fleet of baby dolls. — Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025 Classical French cuisine found a new audience across London, Paris, and New York—and once-fusty sauces were something worth naming on the menu again. — Joel Hart, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025 Now the New York Historical (a rebranding last year dropped both fussy hyphen and fusty noun) is achieving its deferred ambitions, with a hundred-and-seventy-five-million-dollar expansion. — Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fusty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fusty

Adjective

Water brings notes of red grape skins, ripe peach, vanilla, allspice and wood smoke.

— Chris Perugini, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Sweet, juicy, ripe fruits make July and August a bit easier to bear.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 July 2026

Definition of ripe

Adjective

This musty smell is typically caused by mold and mildew growth inside the unit, which is then blown into the home by the fan.

— Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 10 July 2026
From musty star maps to ratty psychics, the movie so adores Los Angeles that Thomas Lennon’s hair stylist character is a riff on local billboard king Chaz Dean.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of musty

Adjective

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
Dispose of any smelly garbage or sticky residues, as these can attract flies and ants.

— Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 25 June 2026

Definition of smelly

Adjective

The foul call that wiped out Egypt’s second goal was poised to be a flashpoint moment from this match, particularly if Argentina was in position to come back to win.

— NBC News, NBC news, 7 July 2026
After making all six of his shots and four of his free throws on Friday, Lendeborg was 0 for 4 from the field and missed both of his foul shots in the first half.

— Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 6 July 2026

Definition of foul

Adjective

These might be mineral water showers or baths, cold-water enemas, or just drinking 3 glasses of stinky, sulfurous spring water daily before breakfast, while strolling and engaging in pleasant conversation on a landscaped promenade.

— Veronique Greenwood, Time, 9 July 2026
Australia’s 2024 stinky ‘black balls’ incident This isn’t the first time mysterious balls were found on Australian beaches, stumping experts and locals alike.

— Drew Pittock, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Definition of stinky

Adjective

From shabby apartments to art experiments to filthy needles—with echoes of Patti Smith and Rebecca Makkai—Adler conjures an era of sorrow borne by too many, too young.

— Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026
A week after Venezuela’s twin earthquakes, doctors warn untreated wounds, filthy shelters and scarce supplies are fueling a looming wave of infections that could claim more lives.

— Regina Garcia Cano, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of filthy

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fusty

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“Fusty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fusty. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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