Adjectives For Smell
Discover the most popular adjectives for describing smell, complete with example sentences to guide your usage.
Updated on March 16, 2024
Choosing the right adjective to describe the smell can significantly alter the perception of a scene or object. A 'sweet' smell might conjure images of flowers or fresh fruit, suggesting a pleasant or inviting atmosphere. In contrast, a 'strong' or 'pungent' smell can be overwhelming, often indicating something potent or even unpleasant. Descriptors like 'bad' or 'acrid' immediately signal a negative experience, hinting at decay or harmful substances. The nuance lies in the intensity and emotion each word evokes, where even a 'faint' smell can stir curiosity or concern, depending on its context. Dive deeper into how each adjective uniquely frames the concept of smell, laying the groundwork for vivid imagery and precise communication.
| sweet | The sweet smell of roses filled the air. |
| strong | The strong smell of coffee wafted through the air. |
| bad | The garbage can emitted a bad smell |
| pungent | The pungent smell of garlic filled the air as the chef chopped it on the cutting board. |
| faint | The faint smell of coffee wafted through the room. |
| acrid | The acrid smell of burning tires filled the air. |
| unpleasant | |
| peculiar | The house had a peculiar smell that made me cough. |
| musty | The old attic had a musty smell that made me cough. |
| foul | The foul smell emanating from the dumpster was nauseating. |
| sour | The sour smell of vinegar filled the room. |
| pleasant | The pleasant smell of flowers filled the air. |
| offensive | The offensive smell wafted through the alleyway. |
| disagreeable | The pungent, disagreeable smell of decaying fish filled the air. |
| fresh | The fresh smell of the mountain air filled her lungs. |
| familiar | The familiar smell of freshly ground coffee wafted through the air. |
| sharp | The sharp smell of pine needles filled the air. |
| strange | The strange smell in the air made me gag. |
| clean | I love the clean smell of freshly laundered sheets. |
| warm | I remember the warm smell of homemade bread coming from the kitchen. |
| characteristic | The house had a characteristic smell of dampness. |
| heavy | The heavy smell of gasoline filled the air. |
| rich | The air was thick with the rich smell of coffee. |
| delicious | The delicious smell wafted through the air, inviting everyone to the kitchen. |
| stale | 'That stale smell tells me the milk went bad' Marie noted to herself, deciding to throw the milk carton away. |
| damp | The old basement had a damp smell that made her nose crinkle. |
| fragrant | The fragrant smell of flowers filled the air. |
| sickly | The sickly smell permeated the room, making everyone cough. |
| earthy | The earthy smell of the forest floor filled the air. |
| awful | The awful smell permeated the entire house. |
| fetid | The fetid smell emanating from the garbage bin was unbearable. |
| horrible | The horrible smell made me feel sick. |
| very | The very smell of the freshly baked bread made her mouth water. |
| aromatic | The aromatic smell of the flowers was intoxicating. |
| putrid | The putrid smell of the rotting fish filled the air. |
| wonderful | The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air with a wonderful smell |
| musky | The old library had a musky smell that reminded me of my childhood. |
| fishy | The old fish market had a strong fishy smell |
| distinctive | The house had a distinctive smell of freshly baked bread. |
| terrible | The terrible smell filled the house. |
| hot | The sizzling bacon filled the kitchen with a hot smell |
| sickening | The sickening smell emanating from the garbage bin nauseated me. |
| slight | The faint, slight smell of lilac permeated the air. |
| bitter | The bitter smell of burnt coffee filled the air. |
| like |
| distinct | The old house had a distinct smell of mold and mildew. |
| powerful | The perfume had a powerful smell that lingered in the air for hours. |
| evil | The evil smell of the burning tires filled the air. |
| thick | The thick smell of smoke hung in the air. |
| agreeable | The agreeable smell of freshly baked bread filled the air. |
| rancid | The rancid smell wafted through the air, making me gag. |
| nice | The flowers had a nice smell |
| funny | The funny smell coming from the kitchen made me gag. |
| nasty | The nasty smell filled the room, making it hard to breathe. |
| sweetish | The sweetish smell of roses filled the air. |
| overpowering | The overpowering smell of the perfume filled the room. |
| spicy | The spicy smell of the curry wafted through the air. |
| sulphurous | The air was thick with a sulphurous smell |
| nauseating | The nauseating smell of garbage filled the air. |
| dank | The basement exuded a dank smell that made my nose wrinkle up in disgust. |
| rotten | The stench from the rotten smell filled the air. |
| unmistakable | The unmistakable smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. |
| dry | The dry smell of the desert filled the air. |
| lovely | I opened the door and was greeted by a lovely smell of fresh flowers. |
| odd | The odd smell in the room made her nauseous. |
| disgusting | The room exuded a disgusting smell that made my stomach churn. |
| salty | The salty smell of the ocean filled the air. |
| oily | The oily smell of the engine permeated the air. |
| lingering | The lingering smell of cigarette smoke permeated the room. |
| dusty | The dusty smell of the old library lingered in the air, a constant reminder of the passage of time. |
| cold | The scent of winter hung in the air, a faint cold smell that hinted at the icy grip of the season. |
| smoky | The air was filled with a strong, smoky smell |
| wet | The wet smell filled the air after the rain. |
| savoury | The savoury smell of roasted chicken filled the air. |
| nauseous | The nauseous smell permeated the air, making it difficult to breathe. |
| curious | The curious smell of pine needles filled the air. |
| cool | The cool smell of the ocean breeze filled the air. |
| queer | The queer smell of the old book filled the room. |
| heady | The room was filled with a heady smell of jasmine. |
| green | The green smell of the grass filled the air. |
| pervasive | The pervasive smell of exhaust fumes filled the air. |
| horrid | The inside of the dumpster had a horrid smell |
| savory | The tantalizing savory smell of roasted chicken wafted through the air. |
| suffocating | The suffocating smell of the landfill made it impossible to breathe. |
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