MUSTY Synonyms: 171 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

musty

adjective

ˈmə-stē

Definition of musty next

as in stinking

having an unpleasant smell musty old gym socks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cliche

used or heard so often as to be dull the musty prose of writers who use the same expressions over and over

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Heat vents circulate air, preventing indoor air from becoming too musty or allergen-filled. —

Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 20 Dec. 2024 Left uncleaned, these spots can make the whole room smell musty. —

Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024 On the nose, Kopi Luwak is earthy, musty, and compost-like, with hints of chocolate and nuts. —

Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024 Photo: Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty Images Of all the Academy’s awards-season events, the Governors Awards tends to be the least musty. —

Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for musty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for musty

Adjective

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
Muttaiah said the man inside the stinking manhole was working without any safety equipment — no gloves, no shoes, no supplemental oxygen.

— Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2019