Synonym Chooser

How does the noun odor contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of odor are aroma, scent, and smell. While all these words mean "the quality that makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense," odor may imply a stronger or more readily distinguished scent or it may be equivalent to smell.

a cheese with a strong odor

When might aroma be a better fit than odor?

While in some cases nearly identical to odor, aroma suggests a somewhat penetrating usually pleasant odor.

the aroma of freshly ground coffee

When would scent be a good substitute for odor?

The words scent and odor can be used in similar contexts, but scent applies to the characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant.

the scent of lilacs

In what contexts can smell take the place of odor?

Although the words smell and odor have much in common, smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character.

an odd smell permeated the room

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 odor But how does a flower conjure up the odor of decaying flesh? Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 8 May 2025 Millions of Americans have experienced foul car odors from dirty air filters. Charles Singh, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025 While these chemicals tend to have an unpleasant, sulfuric odor to them, this one has a light floral scent. Danielle Jackson, Glamour, 29 Apr. 2025 Sip warm teas or broths Suck on throat lozenges or hard candies Avoid irritants like smoke, strong odors, and allergens A Quick Review A dry cough doesn't bring up mucus. Lindsay Curtis, Health, 27 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for odor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for odor
Noun
  • There was a businesslike aura about a team known for their bravado — no shouting, no taunting or joking.
    Kelly Iko, New York Times, 3 May 2025
  • The gray metallic fixturing in the denim area projects a youthful aura, and there are oversize mirrors, 8.8 feet by 5 feet, for head-to-toe viewing.
    David Moin, Footwear News, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • There’s a fragrance-free option, which dries down to have zero scent on the skin.
    Kristin Canning, Wired News, 21 May 2025
  • In language as deft and muscular as Rosa’s team, Drexler captures the scent of the blood and the resin, every wisecrack and sob story, every flake of talc and gob of spit, every pimple and blackhead on the lady wrestlers’ thighs.
    Lauren Elkin, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Myeong Eun-won (Kim Hye-in), a Hospital Playlist alum who has proven herself to care more about her reputation than her patients or her colleagues, has put herself in for the job.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 19 May 2025
  • Evolving From Amplification To Advisory The future of communications lies in integration—where narrative meets performance, where media strategy supports talent attraction and where reputation becomes a measurable asset.
    Lars Voedisch, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Dusty smell: An unpleasant, dusty smell coming from air vents is the result of dirty air filters that need to be changed.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2025
  • The smell of hydrogen sulfide and sewage fills the air, making everyone’s nose crinkle ...
    Audrey Fahlberg, National Review, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • Pronounced aromas of charred oak, caramelized banana, vanilla bean, and fresh-baked cornbread are featured on the nose.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
  • The sweet, earthy aroma after a late August rainstorm.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • The most stinging repute came from China, which accused the U.S. of abandoning Haiti at a dire moment after helping set up its ruling transitional presidential council, now mired in controversy and credibility issues.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The rabbis, both of high repute, belong to different generations and display differing levels of stringency—the stricter is a grandfather; the other, his son-in-law, is more lenient but by no means lax.
    Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • All planets with atmospheres in the Solar System experience auroras, created by the interaction of magnetic fields with high-energy particles from the sun.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Because water heats slower than air or dry soil, water in the landscape or atmosphere serves as a stabilizing influence against sudden temperature spikes.
    Saul Elbein, The Hill, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • The Texas Department of Public Safety runs the database but local law enforcement agencies are responsible for entering the names.
    Rick Jervis, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • The nutmeg name seem to have a rather mixed history here.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Odor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/odor. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on odor

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