malodorous

/mælˈoʊdərəs/

Other forms: malodorously

You can use the adjective malodorous as a nicer way to say that something's stinky. Maybe you think your feet smell like roses, but if people move far away when your shoes come off, your rosy feet are probably malodorous.

Mal- is used to form words for bad things, and in this case, mal-odor-ous means having a bad odor. Synonyms for malodorous include "smelly," "rank," and "funky" — but not funky in a "get on with your bad self" good way, just funky bad. If you walk into a malodorous room, you might start checking the bottoms of your shoes to see if you stepped in something, and if a plate of malodorous food is served, you might cover your nose and mouth.

Definitions of malodorous

1. adjective

   having an unpleasant smell
   synonyms: ill-smelling, malodourous, stinky, unpleasant-smelling

   bilgy

   smelling like bilge water

   fetid, foetid, foul, foul-smelling, funky, ill-scented, noisome, smelly, stinking

   offensively malodorous

   frowsty, fusty, musty

   stale and unclean smelling

   gamey, gamy, high

   (used of the smell of meat) smelling spoiled or tainted

   mephitic, miasmic

   of noxious stench from atmospheric pollution

   niffy

   (British informal) malodorous

   odoriferous, odorous

   emitting an odor

   putrid-smelling

   having the putrid odor of decaying organic matter

   rank-smelling

   having an offensive rancid odor

   reeking

   giving off a strong unpleasant smell

   rancid, sour

   smelling of fermentation or staleness

   antonyms:

   fragrant

   pleasant-smelling

   aromatic, redolent

   having a strong pleasant odor

   odoriferous, odorous, perfumed, scented, sweet, sweet-scented, sweet-smelling

   having a natural fragrance

   perfumed, scented

   filled or impregnated with perfume

   musky

   resembling the smell of musk