Synonym Chooser

How does the noun odor contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of odor are aroma, scent, and smell. While all these words mean "the quality that makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense," odor may imply a stronger or more readily distinguished scent or it may be equivalent to smell.

a cheese with a strong odor

When might aroma be a better fit than odor?

While in some cases nearly identical to odor, aroma suggests a somewhat penetrating usually pleasant odor.

the aroma of freshly ground coffee

When would scent be a good substitute for odor?

The words scent and odor can be used in similar contexts, but scent applies to the characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant.

the scent of lilacs

In what contexts can smell take the place of odor?

Although the words smell and odor have much in common, smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character.

an odd smell permeated the room

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of odor Officers were conducting a proactive patrol outside the 3211 Odyssey Court business when the odor of cannabis drew their attention to a specific area of the facility’s lot, Naperville police Cmdr. Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025 Las Vegas Metro Police discovered the body of Matthew Kelemen, 56, decomposing and wrapped in a tarp inside a locked plastic bin near Fremont Street on May 20 after responding to reports of a foul odor, the department wrote in a press release. Christina Coulter, People.com, 27 May 2025 If peace and prosperity reign in the land and Trump is spending his last two years in good odor with voters, big-name Democrats will be more likely to shy away from a presidential run. Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 23 May 2025 According to a small study published May 28 in the journal PLOS One, cats spend a longer time sniffing a stranger’s odor than their owners. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for odor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for odor
Noun
  • Look, this is Florida’s third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final, so this team has an aura of confidence that’s unmatched by most others.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 15 June 2025
  • Even a few states that don't normally have the chance to spot the auras, like New York, might be able to catch a glimpse.
    Skyler Caruso, People.com, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • They're known for having a sweet, warm and slightly spicy scent similar to cinnamon or nutmeg, and are commonly consumed in ground form as a spice added to recipes.
    Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 13 June 2025
  • Botanical Name: Mentha Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Soil Type: Moist, well-draining Soil pH: Neutral 08 of 11 Petunias These colorful annuals have an unusual scent that flies seem to hate.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • Oakmont lived up to its reputation with a scoring average of 74.6 despite a course still relatively soft from rain and moderate wind that didn’t stick around for long.
    Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025
  • The result is faster closes, longer-term relationships and a reputation that draws the right clients to your agency.
    Drew McLellan, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • Beyond their novelty value, these additives can hide the taste and smell of condoms and lube, which some find off-putting.
    MD Published, Verywell Health, 6 June 2025
  • The variant has similar symptoms to other strains, including fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sore throat, congestion or a runny nose, new loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, nausea or vomiting.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • On a warm summer night, the presence of two huge bakeries seven blocks apart on Edmondson Avenue must have made for some sweet aromas.
    Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 7 June 2025
  • This cake is delicate and tender, with sweetness and coconut aroma that cuts all the way through.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • The most stinging repute came from China, which accused the U.S. of abandoning Haiti at a dire moment after helping set up its ruling transitional presidential council, now mired in controversy and credibility issues.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The rabbis, both of high repute, belong to different generations and display differing levels of stringency—the stricter is a grandfather; the other, his son-in-law, is more lenient but by no means lax.
    Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Game 3 is back in Sunrise Monday, and if Game 2’s Panthers watch party was any preview, expect a wild atmosphere.
    Adam Beasley, Miami Herald, 7 June 2025
  • Ultimately, professor Bayram says, the Gaziantep baklava known today was shaped by the local ingredients, the atmosphere and climate of the city — and by local chefs who were consumed with perfecting the recipe and passed that obsession along to their apprentices.
    Fatma Tanis, NPR, 7 June 2025
Noun
  • For Daniel Weyman, who plays Gandalf/The Stranger, a major turning point in stepping into Gandalf’s iconic boots was finally saying his name aloud for the first time.
    Lauren Coates, Variety, 9 June 2025
  • The final nurse, plain face and plain name, studies a tracing of my contractions and tells me when to bear down, when to ease up.
    Erica Stern June 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Odor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/odor. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on odor

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