SMELL Synonyms: 267 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'smell' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of smell are aroma , odor , and scent . While all these words mean "the quality that makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense," smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character. // an odd smell permeated the room

Q: When is it sensible to use 'aroma' instead of 'smell'?

The meanings of aroma and smell largely overlap; however, aroma suggests a somewhat penetrating usually pleasant odor. // the aroma of freshly ground coffee

Q: How are the words 'odor' and 'smell' related?

Odor may imply a stronger or more readily distinguished scent or it may be equivalent to smell . // a cheese with a strong odor

Q: When could 'scent' be used to replace 'smell'?

Although the words scent and smell have much in common, scent applies to the characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant. // the scent of lilacs

smell 1 of 2

verb

ˈsmel

Definition of smell

as in to sniff

to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose we smelled the aroma of freshly baked cookies as soon as we walked in the house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to sense

to have a vague awareness of I smell something fishy about this situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to suck

to be objectionable or unsatisfactory that movie smells—I wouldn't waste my money on it if I were you

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rule
rock

smell

2 of 2

noun

as in scent

the quality of a thing that makes it perceptible to the sense organs in the nose the smell of vanilla is supposed to be very soothing

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in hint

a very small amount the pie has barely a smell of ginger, but lots of cinnamon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in aura

a special quality or impression associated with something a law firm with a mahogany-lined boardroom that has the discernible smell of money and power

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun smell contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of smell are aroma, odor, and scent. While all these words mean "the quality that makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense," smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character.

an odd smell permeated the room

When is it sensible to use aroma instead of smell?

The meanings of aroma and smell largely overlap; however, aroma suggests a somewhat penetrating usually pleasant odor.

the aroma of freshly ground coffee

How are the words odor and smell related?

Odor may imply a stronger or more readily distinguished scent or it may be equivalent to smell.

a cheese with a strong odor

When could scent be used to replace smell?

Although the words scent and smell have much in common, scent applies to the characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant.

the scent of lilacs

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 smell

Verb

How a room smells does as much heavy lifting as a house plant or a lacquer tray might. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026 One mirror image of the chemical carvone smells like mint, for example, while the other has a whiff of caraway, a spice often used in rye bread. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Noun

Spicy foods can intensify body odor through sulfur-containing compounds, and seafood can trigger a fishy smell in people with a specific metabolic disorder. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026 Sarah ran on a treadmill to the point of exhaustion (to find her VO2 max); tested her sense of smell (since olfactory loss is a sign of rapid aging); and sat through all manner of scans and blood draws. — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for smell

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smell

Verb

Linebacker Chase Smith sniffed out the run and got the fourth-down stop.

— Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 4 Oct. 2026
Alaniz then detained her for a drug-sniffing dog, which alerted to the vehicle.

— Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of sniff

Verb

Data must move quickly enough to close the loop between sensing, inference and action, with immediate inference at the edge and model updates, simulation and fleet-wide learning in centralized systems.

— Richard Clough, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Trump’s blunt talk and status as a celebrity businessman initially helped him around Dayton, where voters sensed that politics as usual had failed them.

— Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of sense

Verb

The power of prediction markets derives precisely from sucking our attention toward what’s speculable—incentivizing the networked crowd to separate signal from noise at scale.

— Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Suburbs stretch their undulating freeways into the grid, sucking out nutrients (and cutting through neighborhoods).

— Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of suck

Noun

These aren’t leather scents (new cars, edgy jackets, saddles), which have been done since 1781, when The House of Creed first made Royal English Leather for King George III.

— Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
With consistent use, our top picks also helped improve the appearance of discoloration, bumps, and uneven tone, while offering a pleasant scent and comfortable wear.

— Glamour, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of scent

Noun

Though some concept drawings were released by the company shortly after the project began in 2008, more recent renditions have been little more than hints showing the craft as an outline in the haze, with only the nose and cockpit showing clearly.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Oct. 2026
Though Kid Rock has not yet discussed his new album — or his relationship with Allen — beyond a brief Instagram post, past comments might offer a hint into his decision to include someone who’s been all but banished from the country music industry.

— Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of hint

Noun

This changes when moving off-center past about 30 degrees, at which point the objects show a wide aura around them.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026
Defined by Victorian era elements like lace and semi-sheer material with severe silhouettes and gothic styles, the dark glamour look punctuated the general edgy aura of Charli XCX’s alt pop star wardrobe.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of aura

Verb

Delphi sits above a geologic vent, an X from which noxious gases escaped the earth, corrupting the minds of women who inhaled and pronounced their prophecies.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026
The chemical is highly corrosive, toxic when inhaled or touched, and flammable under specific concentrations.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of inhale

Verb

At the Irish Rep, director Ciarán O’Reilly has brought O’Neill’s expressionist howl back for a swift, sturdy, smaller-scale revival that now feels unnervingly on-the-pulse.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Japanese firms and their employees increasingly feel unwelcome and unsafe in China.

— Anniek Bao,Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of feel

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smears

smell

smelled

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Style

“Smell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smell. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of smell

verb

noun

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