redolent

[ red-l-uhnt ]

adjective

1. having a pleasant odor; fragrant.

   Synonyms: odoriferous, aromatic, odorous

2. odorous or smelling (usually followed by of ):

   redolent of garlic.

3. suggestive; reminiscent (usually followed by of ):

   verse redolent of Shakespeare.

redolent

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈredolence, noun
• ˈredolently, adverb

Other Words From

• red·o·lence red·o·len·cy noun
• red·o·lent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of redolent¹

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 ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of redolent¹

C14: from Latin redolens smelling (of), from redolēre to give off an odour, from red- re + olēre to smell

Example Sentences

Some early silent films are redolent of “Vertigo.”

From Salon

As she entered one training area, where apprentices learn to install sinks and toilets, she paused and took a deep breath of air redolent with the scent of PVC glue and primer.

From Los Angeles Times

And the version we love and know best is the frolicsome, often gaudy pleasure pier, redolent of the scents of corn dogs and popcorn and fishy waters.

From Los Angeles Times

“They’re poisoning the blood of our country,” he has said of undocumented migrants, using language redolent of the racist doctrines of Adolf Hitler.

From Los Angeles Times

Few parents would describe the smells emanating from their adolescent children as redolent of sandalwood.

From New York Times

Related Words

• evocative
• perfumed
• pungent
• reminiscent
• scented