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.
Through the trading company Suzuki Shoten, the smelly oil was originally exported to Europe, where it was turned into a solid, odorless fat through a process called hydrogenation. — Pei-Hsu Lin, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026 Double-bag the trash when throwing out wet containers or smelly waste, or bags that are especially heavy. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2026 Use the water and hydrogen peroxide solution to rinse out smelly garbage cans. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 2 Aug. 2026 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 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 16 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

More from Merriam-Webster on smelly

Nglish: Translation of smelly for Spanish Speakers

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