smelly

adjective

ˈsme-lē How to pronounce smelly (audio)
smellier; smelliest
Synonyms of smellynext
: having a smell
especially : malodorous
smelly socks

Synonyms of smelly

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Examples of smelly in a Sentence

I don't like smelly cheese. your smelly sneakers are enough to raise the dead
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
While baking soda is famously good at deodorizing smelly things, adding salt to compost piles can interrupt the composting process. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 July 2026 The smelly smoke from the fires spreading across 2,528 square miles in the Province of Ontario snuck into Lake County overnight last Wednesday into Thursday. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026 Clean Your Washing Machine Front-loading washers can develop smelly odors from mold and mildew growth caused by detergent and fabric softener residue and body soil left inside the washer drum and rubber door seals. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 July 2026 As the day goes on, these smelly specimens will close back up and collapse, losing their infamously rotten odor. — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for smelly

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of smelly was in 1862

Rhymes for smelly

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Browse Nearby Words

smell up
smelly
smelt
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Cite this Entry

“Smelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smelly. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

smelly

adjective
ˈsmel-ē How to pronounce smelly (audio)
smellier; smelliest
: having a smell and especially a bad smell
smelly socks

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Nglish: Translation of smelly for Spanish Speakers

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