1
as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell
musty old gym socks
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stereotyped
used or heard so often as to be dull
the musty prose of writers who use the same expressions over and over
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of musty
Does that musty, mildewy smell seem to get worse on warm days?
—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
30 June 2026
If the items have been in storage for any length of time and have a musty odor, give them a quick wash.
—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
26 June 2026
Where old wet-dry vacuums can harbor a musty smell, this one’s self-cleaning and heated drying abilities has banished the issue altogether.
—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
25 June 2026
For truly musty sheets, follow the rewash instructions above.
—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for musty
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
30 June 2026
If the items have been in storage for any length of time and have a musty odor, give them a quick wash.
—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
26 June 2026
Where old wet-dry vacuums can harbor a musty smell, this one’s self-cleaning and heated drying abilities has banished the issue altogether.
—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
25 June 2026
For truly musty sheets, follow the rewash instructions above.
—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for musty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for musty
Adjective
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America’s political landscape has become a stinking mess.
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America’s political landscape has become a stinking mess.
Adjective
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This is a directed, stereotyped behavior in which the highest-resolution region of the somatosensory surface is brought to bear on the object requiring the most detailed analysis.
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Latinos are a fundamental part of American history and culture, and one of the largest communities in the United States, yet their presence in Hollywood has long been limited, stereotyped, or overlooked.
Adjective
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The story of how this whimsical, gender-fluid brand got into the fusty, dusty, and chronically behind-the-times bridal industry isn't a particularly dramatic one.
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It was given a $31 million overhaul in full-on 18th-century Provençal style by the Airelles Collection in 2014, but managed to emerge classic yet not clichéd, formal but not fusty.
Adjective
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Depredation occurs when a shark steals an angler’s catch off their line, and Florida’s fishers are tired of it.
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Pugh is tired of seeing her mom suffer by no fault of her own.
Adjective
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Not only is Earth's closest celestial neighbor a pristine time capsule ripe for study – preserved almost unaltered throughout the course of billions of years – but the moon is viewed as a stepping stone for human exploration deeper into the cosmos.
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Alongside ripe avocados, fresh tomatoes, and spices, this dip is topped with queso blanco and pomegranate seeds.
Adjective
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Using ChatGPT, Gemini, and other artificial intelligence platforms to make everyday decisions has become commonplace.
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When spreadsheets became commonplace, companies did not hire fewer finance professionals.
Adjective
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Inspect fences and perform any repairs or maintenance, such as reinforcing posts or replacing rotted sections.
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Many grapes become too rotted and are left to wither away.
Adjective
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Maybe so, but think of how badly Congress had stated those hackneyed ideas.
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While not exactly a feminist screed, the script grants nary a free pass to the glut of hackneyed gender conventions in the golden-age canon without at least cracking a joke.
Cite this Entry
“Musty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/musty. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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