as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell
your smelly sneakers are enough to raise the dead
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smelly
Don’t get compost too wet, though—overly moist conditions make compost smelly!
—
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025
Nobody wants to ruin that fresh, clean feeling after washing their hands by reaching for a soggy (or worse, smelly) towel.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Avoid adding smelly meats, fruit rinds or other sweet-smelling food scraps to your compost.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 13 Sep. 2025
Once cool, pour it into a spray bottle and lightly mist the smelly surfaces.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smelly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smelly
Adjective
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Four plays, 76 yards, in 25 stinking seconds.—
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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.—
Adjective
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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.—
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But don't fear—there are a few solutions to this stinky problem.—
Adjective
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There's nothing quite like ripe, juicy blueberries picked at the height of the season.—
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Adding ripe avocado makes hummus greener, creamier, and more delicious.—
Adjective
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Vermin, malodorous airs and other issues caused 14 Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach restaurants to fail inspection last week.—
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Democrats are an eye-watering 26 points underwater while Republicans are a more mildly malodorous 11 points beneath the surface.—
Adjective
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With about six minutes remaining in the second half, fans reacted unfavorably to a foul call against Spartans forward Jaxson Kohler.—
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But the Warriors were unable to also overcome Curry piling up four fourth-quarter fouls, which led to his first foul-out since 2021.—
Adjective
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The medical ordeals are traumatic and disgusting, but fascinating and full of the quirks of modern life.—
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Having snow, slush, and (eventually) water all over my floors was a disgusting feeling.—
Adjective
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Merry Christmas ya filthy animals.—
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In other words, Cunha’s job is to convince the Americans now running the federal government to give Brown’s motley crew of gender-benders, anti-Semites and filthy-rich legacies a good leaving alone.—
Adjective
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Citizens Energy customers should be on the lookout for a seasonal greeting from the gas and water utility this winter — with a card that is more fetid than festive.—
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From the fetid and overcrowded cells of the town’s migrant detention center, officers pick out a Sudanese man who had been arrested the day before.—
Cite this Entry
“Smelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smelly. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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