Synonyms of musty

musty

adjective

ˈmə-stē 

1

as in stinking

having an unpleasant smell

musty old gym socks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stinking
• fusty
• ripe
• rotted
• stinky
• smelly
• rotting
• filthy
• fetid
• malodorous
• strong
• foul
• disgusting
• reeking
• funky
• frowsy
• dirty
• rotten
• noisome
• frowsty
• reeky
• stenchy
• rank
• stale
• rancid
• putrid
• bad
• vile
• nasty
• decaying
• spoiled
• decayed
• skunky
• repulsive
• revolting
• offensive
• odorous
• noxious
• decomposed
• spoiling
• decomposing
• odoriferous
• odiferous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• aromatic
• fragrant
• sweet
• scented
• perfumed
• redolent
• savory
• ambrosial
• woodsy
• spicy
• flowery
• fruity

2

as in stereotyped

used or heard so often as to be dull

the musty prose of writers who use the same expressions over and over

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stereotyped
• tired
• commonplace
• hackneyed
• old
• stale
• cobwebby
• obligatory
• typical
• boring
• shopworn
• clichéd
• trite
• usual
• timeworn
• hackney
• threadbare
• cliché
• cardboard
• banal
• dusty
• well-worn
• moth-eaten
• tiring
• conventional
• hack
• dull
• standard
• heavy
• ordinary
• derivative
• normal
• dry
• stuffy
• platitudinous
• weary
• bromidic
• drab
• stodgy
• unimaginative
• uninspired
• wearying
• canned
• unoriginal
• tame
• uninteresting
• tedious
• imitative
• dreary
• barren
• tried-and-true
• arid
• monotonous
• ponderous
• tiresome
• rote
• old-fashioned
• ready-made
• vapid
• leaden
• humdrum
• wearisome
• colorless
• pedestrian
• prosaic
• stock
• undramatic
• routine
• twice-told
• pedantic
• flat
• numbing
• jejune
• platitudinal
• old hat
• cookie-cutter
• ho-hum
• drudging
• mind-numbing
• jading

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• new
• fresh
• original
• novel
• exciting
• interesting
• intriguing
• unfamiliar
• stimulating
• unhackneyed
• strange
• energizing
• unusual
• engrossing
• involving
• unclichéd
• animating
• unknown
• engaging
• invigorating
• riveting
• gripping
• absorbing
• extraordinary
• atypical
• uncommon
• enlivening
• unaccustomed
• unprecedented
• unheard-of
• galvanizing
• pioneering
• pathbreaking
• trailblazing

Synonym Chooser

How is the word musty distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of musty are fetid, fusty, malodorous, 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 is it sensible to use malodorous instead of musty?

The synonyms malodorous and musty are sometimes interchangeable, but malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

When would noisome be a good substitute for musty?

While in some cases nearly identical to musty, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

In what contexts can putrid take the place of musty?

The words putrid and musty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

When can rank be used instead of musty?

Although the words rank and musty have much in common, rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

How do stinking and fetid relate to one another, in the sense of musty?

Both stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells

the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of musty

There's an Unusual Odor A musty or earthy odor often means mold in the ducts, Goude warns, and a sharp, ammonia-like or animal odor is a sign of pests like rodents. —Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 19 Feb. 2026

To guide the initial sessions, the band brought in the hitmaking producer Arif Mardin, whose pop bona fides included producing several classic Aretha Franklin records and overseeing the Bee Gees’ transformation from musty ’60s holdovers to disco superstars. —Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 15 Feb. 2026

Both open on musty quiet rooms full of upholstered Edwardian era furniture. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026

No need to go outside, no musty smell, just dry laundry. —Simon Hill, Wired News, 6 Feb. 2026