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Smell synonyms

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fragrance
The quality of having a pleasant odor:
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  1. The quality of having a pleasant odor:
  2. A substance, such as a perfume or cologne, designed to emit a pleasant odor.
  3. A sweet or pleasant odor; a scent.
odor
(Archaic) A perfume or other sweet-smelling substance
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  1. (Archaic) A perfume or other sweet-smelling substance
  2. That characteristic of a substance which makes it perceptible to the sense of smell
  3. A quality of something that is perceived by the sense of smell:
scent
The sense of smell:
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  1. The sense of smell:
  2. A manufactured fluid preparation used to give fragrance; perfume
  3. The trail of a hunted animal or fugitive:
exhalation
Something exhaled, as air, steam, or an odor; emanation; effluvium
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  1. Something exhaled, as air, steam, or an odor; emanation; effluvium
  2. The act or process of exhaling, or sending forth in the form of steam or vapor; evaporation.
  3. That which is exhaled, or which rises in the form of vapor, fume, or steam; effluvium; emanation; as, exhalations from the earth or flowers, decaying matter, etc.
redolence
The quality or state of being redolent
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  1. The quality or state of being redolent
  2. A characteristic or distinctive odor:
  3. (Countable) An evocative fragrance
essence
A perfume
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  1. A perfume
  2. A substance that keeps, in concentrated form, the flavor, fragrance, or other properties of the plant, drug, food, etc. from which it is extracted; essential oil
  3. A perfume or scent.
aroma
A quality that can be perceived by the olfactory sense:
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  1. A quality that can be perceived by the olfactory sense:
  2. A characteristic, usually pleasant odor, as of a plant, spice, or food:
  3. A pleasant, often spicy odor; fragrance, as of a plant, a wine, cooking, etc.
stench
A foul or objectionable quality:
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  1. A foul or objectionable quality:
  2. A strong, foul odor; a stink.
  3. An offensive smell or odor; stink
perfume
A pleasing smell or odor; sweet scent, as of flowers; fragrance
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  1. A pleasing smell or odor; sweet scent, as of flowers; fragrance
  2. A pleasing, agreeable scent or odor.
  3. A pleasant smell; the scent, odor, or odoriferous particles emitted from a sweet-smelling substance; a pleasant odor; fragrance; aroma.
bouquet
A small cluster or arrangement of flowers.
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  1. A small cluster or arrangement of flowers.
  2. A fragrant smell, especially of a wine or liqueur.
  3. The scent of a particular wine.
trail
A mark, footprint, scent, etc. left by a person, animal, or thing that has passed
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  1. A mark, footprint, scent, etc. left by a person, animal, or thing that has passed
  2. A mark, trace, course, or path left by a moving body.
  3. The scent of a person or animal:
trace
A visible mark, such as a footprint, made or left by the passage of a person, animal, or thing.
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  1. A visible mark, such as a footprint, made or left by the passage of a person, animal, or thing.
  2. An act of researching or ascertaining the origin or location of something:
  3. Evidence or an indication of the former presence or existence of something; a vestige:
emanation
A heavy, gaseous isotope that results from the decay of a radioactive element
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  1. A heavy, gaseous isotope that results from the decay of a radioactive element
  2. That which issues, flows, or proceeds from any object as a source; efflux; an effluence; as, perfume is an emanation from a flower.
  3. Something that comes forth from a source; thing emitted
malodor
A bad odor; a stench.
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  1. A bad odor; a stench.
  2. An offensive odor
fetidness
The quality of being fetid
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  1. The quality of being fetid
stink
(Slang) A scandal or controversy:
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  1. (Slang) A scandal or controversy:
  2. (Informal) A strong public reaction, as one of outrage, censure, protest, etc.
  3. A strong, unpleasant smell; stench
mephitis
A poisonous or foul-smelling gas emitted from the earth.
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  1. A poisonous or foul-smelling gas emitted from the earth.
  2. A harmful, bad-smelling vapor from the earth, as the exhalation from decomposing organic matter or poisonous gas from a mine
  3. An offensive smell; a stench.
mustiness
The characteristic of being musty.
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  1. The characteristic of being musty.
rancidity
The state of being rancid.
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  1. The state of being rancid.
effluvium
A real or supposed outflow in the form of a vapor or stream of invisible particles; aura
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  1. A real or supposed outflow in the form of a vapor or stream of invisible particles; aura
  2. A usually invisible emanation or exhalation, as of vapor or gas.
  3. A disagreeable or noxious vapor or odor
foulness
An island off the east coast of Essex where the Thames estuary joins the North Sea.
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  1. An island off the east coast of Essex where the Thames estuary joins the North Sea.
  2. The state of being foul
reek
Vapor; fume
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  1. Vapor; fume
  2. (Chiefly British) Smoke or vapor.
  3. A strong, unpleasant smell; stench
uncleanness
(Uncountable) The state of being unclean
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  1. (Uncountable) The state of being unclean
  2. (Countable) The result or product of being unclean.
fume
(Chem.) A number of solid or liquid particles within a gas
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  1. (Chem.) A number of solid or liquid particles within a gas
  2. A gas, smoke, or vapor, esp. if offensive or suffocating
  3. Vapor, gas, or smoke, especially if irritating, harmful, or strong.
smelling
The act by which something is smelled.
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  1. The act by which something is smelled.
detection
A finding out or being found out
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  1. A finding out or being found out
  2. The act of detecting or sensing something; discovering something that was hidden or disguised.
  3. The act or process of detecting; discovery:
olfaction
The sense of smell
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  1. The sense of smell
  2. The act or process of smelling.
perfume
To put perfume on; dab, spray, etc. with perfume
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  1. To put perfume on; dab, spray, etc. with perfume
  2. To apply perfume to; to fill or impregnate with a perfume; to scent.
  3. To fill with a fragrant or pleasing odor; scent
scent
To fill with an odor; give fragrance to; perfume
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  1. To fill with an odor; give fragrance to; perfume
  2. To suspect or detect:
  3. To fill with a pleasant odor; perfume:
exhale
To be given off or rise into the air as vapor; evaporate
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  1. To be given off or rise into the air as vapor; evaporate
  2. To give off; emit:
  3. To breathe out (air, cigarette smoke, etc.)
emanate
To send forth; emit
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  1. To send forth; emit
  2. To come forth; issue, as from a source
  3. To come or send forth, as from a source:
stink
To be morally offensive or have the appearance of dishonesty or corruption:
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  1. To be morally offensive or have the appearance of dishonesty or corruption:
  2. To be in extremely bad repute:
  3. To give off a strong, unpleasant smell
scent
To fill with an odor; give fragrance to; perfume
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  1. To fill with an odor; give fragrance to; perfume
  2. To fill with a pleasant odor; perfume:
  3. To suspect or detect:
sniff
To use the sense of smell, as in savoring or investigating:
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  1. To use the sense of smell, as in savoring or investigating:
  2. (Intransitive) To make a short, audible inhalation, through the nose, as if to smell something.
  3. To draw in air through the nose with enough force to be heard, as in clearing the nose, smelling something, or expressing contempt or skepticism
inhale
To breathe in; inspire.
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  1. To breathe in; inspire.
  2. To draw something such as air or smoke into the lungs by breathing; inspire.
  3. To draw (air or smoke, for example) into the lungs by breathing; inspire.
snuff
To put a sudden end to:
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  1. To put a sudden end to:
  2. To smell, sniff, or sniff at
  3. To use or inhale snuff.
perceive
To regard or consider; deem:
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  1. To regard or consider; deem:
  2. To achieve understanding of; apprehend:
  3. To cause or allow the mind to become aware of (a stimulus):
detect
To discover or ascertain the existence, presence, or fact of.
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  1. To discover or ascertain the existence, presence, or fact of.
  2. To catch or discover, as in a misdeed
  3. To learn something hidden and often improper about:
nose out
To defeat an opponent by a small margin.
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  1. To defeat an opponent by a small margin.
  2. To find something using ones sense of smell.
nose
To make or push (a way, etc.) cautiously or slowly with the front forward
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  1. To make or push (a way, etc.) cautiously or slowly with the front forward
  2. To touch or rub with the nose
  3. To push with the nose
scent
To hunt prey by means of the sense of smell. Used of hounds.
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  1. To hunt prey by means of the sense of smell. Used of hounds.
  2. To suspect or detect:
  3. To fill with a pleasant odor; perfume:
sniff
To draw in air through the nose with enough force to be heard, as in clearing the nose, smelling something, or expressing contempt or skepticism
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  1. To draw in air through the nose with enough force to be heard, as in clearing the nose, smelling something, or expressing contempt or skepticism
  2. To breathe in forcibly through the nose; draw in or inhale nasally
  3. To inhale forcibly through the nose.
snuff
To use or inhale snuff.
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  1. To use or inhale snuff.
  2. To inhale (something) audibly through the nose; sniff.
  3. To draw in through the nose; inhale strongly; sniff
whiff
(--- Informal) To miss completely when attempting to hit something, as a golf ball, with a swinging motion
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  1. (--- Informal) To miss completely when attempting to hit something, as a golf ball, with a swinging motion
  2. To blow or move in puffs, as in smoking
  3. To inhale through the nose; sniff:
reek
To have a strong, offensive smell
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  1. To have a strong, offensive smell
  2. To emit or exude (vapor, fumes, etc.)
  3. To give off a strong unpleasant odor:
stink
To be in extremely bad repute:
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  1. To be in extremely bad repute:
  2. To cause to stink:
  3. To give off a strong, unpleasant smell
savor
To taste or smell, especially with pleasure:
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  1. To taste or smell, especially with pleasure:
  2. To have a particular taste or smell:
  3. To taste or smell, esp. with relish
smack
To press (the lips) together and part them suddenly so as to make a smack
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  1. To press (the lips) together and part them suddenly so as to make a smack
  2. To press together and open (the lips) quickly and noisily, as in eating or tasting.
  3. To give an indication; be suggestive. Often used with of:
suggest
To serve as or provide a motive for; prompt or demand:
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  1. To serve as or provide a motive for; prompt or demand:
  2. To mention as something to think over, act on, etc.; bring to the mind for consideration
  3. To offer for consideration or action; propose:
taste
(Archaic) To appreciate or enjoy.
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  1. (Archaic) To appreciate or enjoy.
  2. To have a sensation, limited experience, or anticipating sense (of something)
  3. To detect or distinguish the flavor of by the sense of taste
nose
(Informal) The nose considered as a symbol of prying:
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  1. (Informal) The nose considered as a symbol of prying:
  2. A very short distance or narrow margin:
  3. The ability to detect, sense, or discover as if by smell:
olfaction
The sense of smell
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  1. The sense of smell
  2. The act or process of smelling.
scent
A hint of something imminent; a suggestion:
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  1. A hint of something imminent; a suggestion:
  2. The sense of smell:
  3. The trail of a hunted animal or fugitive:
aroma
A characteristic, usually pleasant odor, as of a plant, spice, or food:
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  1. A characteristic, usually pleasant odor, as of a plant, spice, or food:
  2. A pleasant, often spicy odor; fragrance, as of a plant, a wine, cooking, etc.
  3. Any smell or odor
odor
That characteristic of a substance which makes it perceptible to the sense of smell
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  1. That characteristic of a substance which makes it perceptible to the sense of smell
  2. A smell, whether pleasant or unpleasant; fragrance, stench, etc.
  3. A quality of something that is perceived by the sense of smell:
scent
The sense of smell:
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  1. The sense of smell:
  2. A smell; odor
  3. The trail of a hunted animal or fugitive:
air
A distinctive quality or appearance; an aura:
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  1. A distinctive quality or appearance; an aura:
  2. The general environment or condition, as in attitudes and ideas:
  3. An outward appearance; general impression or feeling given by something
ambiance
The special atmosphere or mood created by a particular environment:
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  1. The special atmosphere or mood created by a particular environment:
atmosphere
The mixture of gases surrounding the Earth or other celestial body, held in place by gravity. It forms distinct layers at different heights. The Earth's atmosphere consists, in ascending order, of the troposphere (containing 90% of the atmosphere's mass), the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, and the exosphere. The atmosphere is composed primarily of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) and plays a major role in the water cycle , the nitrogen cycle , and the carbon cycle .
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  1. The mixture of gases surrounding the Earth or other celestial body, held in place by gravity. It forms distinct layers at different heights. The Earth's atmosphere consists, in ascending order, of the troposphere (containing 90% of the atmosphere's mass), the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, and the exosphere. The atmosphere is composed primarily of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) and plays a major role in the water cycle , the nitrogen cycle , and the carbon cycle .
  2. An interesting, often exotic, effect produced by decoration, furnishings, etc.
  3. The dominant tone or mood of a work of art.
aura
(Medicine) A sensation, as of a cold breeze or a bright light, that precedes the onset of certain disorders, such as an epileptic seizure or an attack of migraine.
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  1. (Medicine) A sensation, as of a cold breeze or a bright light, that precedes the onset of certain disorders, such as an epileptic seizure or an attack of migraine.
  2. A particular atmosphere or quality that seems to arise from and surround a person or thing
  3. A field of energy thought by some to emanate from all things in nature and to be visible to certain persons with psychic powers
feel
The act of feeling; perception by the senses
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  1. The act of feeling; perception by the senses
  2. The nature of a thing as perceived through touch
  3. Perception by touch or by sensation of the skin:
feeling
A sensation experienced through this sense:
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  1. A sensation experienced through this sense:
  2. Appreciative regard or understanding:
  3. Intuitive awareness or aptitude; a feel:
mood
A particular state of mind or emotion:
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  1. A particular state of mind or emotion:
  2. (Gram.) A characteristic of verbs that involves the speaker's attitude toward the action expressed, indicating whether this is regarded as a fact (indicative mood), as a matter of supposition, desire, possibility, etc. (subjunctive mood), or as a command (imperative mood); also, an analytic category based on this characteristic (mood is shown by inflection, as in Latin, or analytically with auxiliaries, as English may, might, should, or by both)
  3. A predominant or pervading feeling, spirit, or tone
tone
A general quality, effect, or atmosphere:
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  1. A general quality, effect, or atmosphere:
  2. A vocal or musical sound
  3. The simple or fundamental tone of a musical sound as distinguished from its overtones

Synonym Study

  • Aroma suggests a pervasive, pleasant, often sharp odor the aroma of fine tobacco
  • Odor suggests a heavier emanation and, therefore, one that is more generally perceptible and more clearly recognizable chemical odors
  • Scent refers to the emanation from the thing smelled, often implying that it can be discriminated only by a sensitive sense of smell the scent of a hunted animal
  • Smell is the most general word for any quality perceived through the olfactory sense foul and fresh smells
Find another word for smell. In this page you can discover 79 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for smell, like: fragrance, odor, scent, exhalation, redolence, essence, aroma, stench, perfume, bouquet and trail.

Sentence Examples

  • I love the smell of the ocean.

  • She rose and approached, resting back on her heels in front of him, close enough for him to smell her musk and feel her heat.

  • I could smell coffee.

  • Here I am, so close to the tipster I can smell her; or him.

  • The smell of coffee brought Yancey back into the room a little later.

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