malodorous

[ mal-oh-der-uhs ]

adjective

1. having an unpleasant or offensive odor; smelling bad:

   a malodorous swamp.

malodorous

/ mælˈəʊdərəs /

adjective

1. having a bad smell

Derived Forms

• malˈodorousness, noun
• malˈodorously, adverb

Other Words From

• mal·odor·ous·ly adverb
• mal·odor·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of malodorous¹

First recorded in 1840–50; mal- + odorous

Example Sentences

One witness said it became so unbearable that the flight turned around and headed back to the gate to remove the malodorous traveler.

From Seattle Times

The canal still carries sewage, mixed with rainwater, away from the city on a malodorous, 29-mile course.

From Los Angeles Times

Because each snail yielded little more than a drop of the discharge — a clear, malodorous liquid — some 250,000 were required to produce an ounce of dye, by some accounts.

From New York Times

That he is also reportedly a malodorous individual is, unlike his expensive yet untailored suits or his clown-scale red ties, perfectly fitting.

From Salon

Times editorial board members and Opinion columnists Melissa Davis and Josh Farley made a malodorous examination of what happens to King County’s recyclables.

From Seattle Times