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Definition of mustynext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word musty distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of musty are fetid, fusty, malodorous, noisome, putrid, rank, and stinking. While all these words mean "bad-smelling," fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.

a fusty attic
the musty odor of a damp cellar

When is it sensible to use malodorous instead of musty?

The synonyms malodorous and musty are sometimes interchangeable, but malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

When would noisome be a good substitute for musty?

While in some cases nearly identical to musty, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

In what contexts can putrid take the place of musty?

The words putrid and musty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

When can rank be used instead of musty?

Although the words rank and musty have much in common, rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

How do stinking and fetid relate to one another, in the sense of musty?

Both stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells
the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

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 musty During your inspection, pay attention to any moisture issues, water stains, musty odors, or signs of poor ventilation. Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025 As the two men climbed down the steps, they were struck by the dank, musty air. Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025 Other evidence of bed bugs includes bloody or inky stains on fabric and a sweet, musty smell in the room. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 5 Dec. 2025 Keto flu breath is often described as having a fruity yet musty odor.11 8. Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 28 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for musty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for musty
Adjective
  • Four plays, 76 yards, in 25 stinking seconds.
    David Aldridge, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
  • This is about a team with a top-10 payroll whose GM committed too stinking much of it to dogs that can’t, or won’t, pull the sled.
    Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2019
Adjective
  • Later, Lenape artist Joe Baker places cutout photographs of his ancestors over the stereotyped images of Native Americans found in the wallpaper.
    Tom McDonough, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2025
  • Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.
    Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • Classical French cuisine found a new audience across London, Paris, and New York—and once-fusty sauces were something worth naming on the menu again.
    Joel Hart, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Now the New York Historical (a rebranding last year dropped both fussy hyphen and fusty noun) is achieving its deferred ambitions, with a hundred-and-seventy-five-million-dollar expansion.
    Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The first turned a fourth-quarter fumble into a 59-yard score when Achane burst through a tired, and seemingly defeated Buffalo defensive front and outsprinted the Bills’ entire secondary to the end zone.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
  • But that feels like a tired, outdated characterisation.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • There's nothing quite like ripe, juicy blueberries picked at the height of the season.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Adding ripe avocado makes hummus greener, creamier, and more delicious.
    Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The incidents have mainly taken place in states where aerial pesticides have become more commonplace.
    Carolina Abbott Galvão, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Including a mid-round pick (or two) is a simple and commonplace way for teams to maximize their return in a trade.
    Thomas Drance, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • This is actually better than some of the hackneyed rom-coms Reiner muddled through, a coming-of-age story about two kids’ pseudo-love story from grade school through middle school.
    Will Leitch, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
  • On the first real mission in the jungle region of Fury Green, Samus encounters a Galactic Federation technician named Myles Mackenzie who, from his reveal in the pre-release previews, became a sticking point for fans due to his hackneyed sidekick trappings.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • This Mumi Travel Laundry Bag is made of moisture-proof and odor-resistant material that locks in funky smells, preventing the rest of your clothing from getting stinky.
    Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
  • But don't fear—there are a few solutions to this stinky problem.
    Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 1 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Musty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/musty. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on musty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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