as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell
your smelly sneakers are enough to raise the dead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 smelly
Before Brummell, the aristocracy dressed in rich, smelly materials; after, styles were adapted from military uniforms—think of the broad shoulders of a British pinstripe suit, for example.
—
Gary Shteyngart, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
There’s nothing worse than getting out into the wilderness, away from society, and then hearing somebody one campsite over start up a loud, smelly gas generator.
—Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 6 Jan. 2025
Mushy and smelly roots should be clipped away with sterilized pruners or scissors, while circling roots can be gently teased apart to improve water absorption.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Dec. 2024
Some states have taken measures to fight back against the smelly, harmful tree.
—Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 18 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for smelly
Gary Shteyngart, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
There’s nothing worse than getting out into the wilderness, away from society, and then hearing somebody one campsite over start up a loud, smelly gas generator.
—Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 6 Jan. 2025
Mushy and smelly roots should be clipped away with sterilized pruners or scissors, while circling roots can be gently teased apart to improve water absorption.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Dec. 2024
Some states have taken measures to fight back against the smelly, harmful tree.
—Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 18 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for smelly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smelly
Adjective
-
This is about a team with a top-10 payroll whose GM committed too stinking much of it to dogs that can’t, or won’t, pull the sled.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
22 Dec. 2019
-
Muttaiah said the man inside the stinking manhole was working without any safety equipment — no gloves, no shoes, no supplemental oxygen.—
Joanna Slater,
Washington Post,
16 Dec. 2019
Adjective
-
The time would seem to be ripe for the release of the aforementioned songs; reps for Cornell and the bandmembers did not immediately respond to Variety‘s requests for comment.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
19 May 2025
-
The Taiwan issue is also ripe for compromise and would strongly enhance a U.S.-China détente.—
J. Tedford Tyler,
Time,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
Public stations were expensive to maintain and quickly became dirty and malodorous.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
22 Jan. 2025
-
Come for Gary Oldman’s Jackson Lamb, sweaty and malodorous and razor-sharp; stay for some of the best-structured storytelling on television.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Ketel Marte hit a solo home run around the right-field foul pole.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2025
-
Four pitches into the game, Willy Adames crushed a hanging 1-2 slider for what appeared to be a solo home run, only for the call to be overturned by replay, the ball swerving just left of the foul pole.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
Adjective
-
Police call fake GoFundMe page 'disgusting' Concord Police Capt. Brian Goldman said police are investigating.—
Norman Miller,
USA Today,
7 May 2025
-
But where was the anger from Erik Spoelstra in his post-game news conference about this disgusting performance?—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
At least 12 outside experts submitted testimony in what’s called the Dunsmore case, finding that San Diego jails are filthy and that workers regularly fail to follow best practices or department policies.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2025
-
So The Righteous Gemstones went with the sentimental ending — or at least what counts for a sentimental ending in a series so committed to the filthiest possible turns of phrase.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
5 May 2025
Adjective
-
Not so happy are people trying to swim around the stuff or breathing in the fetid aroma of drying mounds of sargassum.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
9 May 2025
-
Only one of them has a fetish for the fetid stink of porta potties, but the other one has their weird kinks too.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
This high-moisture environment is ideal for mold and mildew, encouraging rampant growth through the affected areas and producing an unpleasant musty smell.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2025
-
Change your cabin air filter before cranking up your car A.C. to avoid musty car smells.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smelly. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share