mustiness

/ˈmʌstɪnəs/

Mustiness is the quality of being stale and damp. If your friend complains about the mustiness of your attic bedroom, you might want to open a window.

You can use the noun mustiness for things that are literally moldy or mildewed — the slight mustiness of old library books is actually kind of pleasant, while the mustiness of your neighbors' house makes you feel a little ill. Mustiness also a good word for stale, tired ideas: "The mustiness of the movie's themes makes it much less exciting than all the car chases and explosions might lead you to believe."

Definitions of mustiness

1. noun

   the quality of smelling or tasting old or stale or moldy
   synonyms: moldiness, must

   type of:

   staleness

   having lost purity and freshness as a consequence of aging