redolent

American  

[red-l-uhnt] / ˈrɛd l ənt /

adjective

1. having a pleasant odor; fragrant.

   Synonyms:

   odoriferous, aromatic, odorous

2. odorous or smelling (usually followed byof ).

   redolent of garlic.

3. suggestive; reminiscent (usually followed byof ).

   verse redolent of Shakespeare.

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redolent British  

/ ˈrɛdəʊlənt /

adjective

1. having a pleasant smell; fragrant

2. (postpositive; foll by of or with) having the odour or smell (of); scented (with)

   a room redolent of country flowers

3. (postpositive; foll by of or with) reminiscent or suggestive (of)

   a picture redolent of the 18th century

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Other Word Forms

• redolence noun
• redolency noun
• redolently adverb

Etymology

Origin of redolent

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin redolent-, stem of redolēns, present participle of redolēre “to emit odor,” equivalent to red- red- ( def. ) + ol(ēre) “to smell” (akin to odor ( def. ) )

Example Sentences

And what he is alleged to have gotten up to with Jeffrey Epstein was redolent of low moral character.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

He has developed a remarkable gift for creating suspenseful dramas redolent of Patricia Highsmith’s psychological thrillers, but distilled into the challenging solo-play format.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

The spicy tuna rolls, redolent of cooked fish blended with sriracha and mayonnaise, are a popular lunch offering among students.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 8, 2025

That pact to respect the dignity of the deceased, redolent of the old-school media environment, where gory films had to be sought out on LiveLeak, did not last.

From Slate • Sep. 12, 2025

He wanted to lie down in this redolent field, curl up in the green womb in the dazzling aura of these mountains, growing warm and drowsy under the sun, abdicating all responsibilities—and sleep.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Related Words

• evocative
• perfumed
• pungent
• reminiscent
• scented