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malodorous

/ˌmælˈəʊ.də.ɹəs/

A clinical, formal term for smelling bad. While "stinky" is colloquial and "fetid" implies decay or stagnation, malodorous acts as a polite or technical descriptor often found in medical reports, legal documents, or scientific observations. It carries a detached, objective tone rather than an emotional one. It describes the quality of the smell without necessarily expressing the speaker's disgust, making it suitable for professional contexts where "smelly" would be too childish.

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Tuesday afternoon, Chloe is at the library and Leo is at home in his room.
Chloe Smith

did you finally take out that malodorous gym bag or is it still rotting?

Chloe Smith
Leo Smith
Leo Smith

chill, i'll get around to it after this match.

💡
Chloe uses 'malodorous' to dramatically emphasize the smell of Leo's gear. Leo responds with 'get around to it', a phrasal verb meaning to eventually do something that has been postponed.

Meanings

adjective

Having or smelling of a bad odor; smelling unpleasant.

"The malodorous fumes from the chemical plant drifted across the neighborhood."

Related Words

Last Updated: May 24, 2026Report an Error