smellier; smelliest
: having a smell
especially : malodorous
smelly socks

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.
Usually, a smelly refrigerator is caused by specific foods inside it and how they're stored. Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2025 Before, the engine room was a noisy, smelly space below deck. Chun-Lien Su, IEEE Spectrum, 29 July 2019 If your plant’s roots or stems are mushy and smelly, your plant may be affected by root rot. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Dec. 2024 Before Brummell, the aristocracy dressed in rich, smelly materials; after, styles were adapted from military uniforms—think of the broad shoulders of a British pinstripe suit, for example. Gary Shteyngart, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Smelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smelly. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

smelly

adjective
smellier; smelliest
: having a smell and especially a bad smell
smelly socks

More from Merriam-Webster on smelly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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