as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell
your smelly sneakers are enough to raise the dead
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Example Sentences
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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
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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
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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
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When tomatoes are just ripe, Holland advises placing them in the refrigerator for no more than two days to prevent them from getting too soft.—
Logan Holland,
People.com,
5 July 2025
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Use up ripe bananas in this fun twist on a cobbler.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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Callery pear and Bradford pear trees are considered malodorous, according to the Spruce, a home and garden site.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
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Rue was considered the most malodorous of all herbs, was even thought to keep away evil spirits, and was spread on church floors for this purpose.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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Cats often express their dismay at being excluded from your travel plans by peeing in your luggage, but of course, cat urine is not the only thing that can cause a foul odor in your suitcase.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 June 2025
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Police responded to a 911 call about a foul odor, and found Burgos’ apartment door unlocked in the building that offers affordable units for senior citizens.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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Danny DeVito, who plays the hilarious and disgusting Frank Reynolds on Always Sunny, used to be married to a fellow comedy legend, Rhea Perlman.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
9 July 2025
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July 7, 2025 Homa included another message from a fan that is far too disgusting to even reiterate.—
Kendall Capps,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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These words are so filthy, even 40 years later, that Tribune editors will only allow an edited version to be included here.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
11 July 2025
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The girl is so filthy that just one look at her gets across the idea that this lifestyle is repellent.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Harold had exclaimed when the fetid, turquoise sea had at last come into view.—
Nicole Krauss,
The Atlantic,
6 July 2025
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Decades of despoiling water bodies have taken a terrible toll, filling water bodies with fetid algae that blocks sunlight and smothers the native seagrass beds that are a main food source for manatees.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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First up, avoid musty smells by moving towels to the dryer as soon as the wash cycle is complete.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
6 July 2025
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On July 12, after days of continuous rain, a musty heat spread across the Chicago region and temperatures soared with a record-high heat index of about 126 degrees.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smelly. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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