Synonym Chooser

How does the noun odor contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of odor are aroma, scent, and smell. While all these words mean "the quality that makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense," odor may imply a stronger or more readily distinguished scent or it may be equivalent to smell.

a cheese with a strong odor

When might aroma be a better fit than odor?

While in some cases nearly identical to odor, aroma suggests a somewhat penetrating usually pleasant odor.

the aroma of freshly ground coffee

When would scent be a good substitute for odor?

The words scent and odor can be used in similar contexts, but scent applies to the characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant.

the scent of lilacs

In what contexts can smell take the place of odor?

Although the words smell and odor have much in common, smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character.

an odd smell permeated the room

Examples 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 odor The majority of your sweat glands don’t provide such a nutritional bounty and therefore don’t give rise to odor. Amanda Schupak, CNN, 12 Jan. 2025 But resolving to take a little time each night to check them off your list will prevent messes (and odors!) from becoming overwhelming at the end of the week. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Jan. 2025 The dispute originated with a recurring issue in the River Valley when strong odors are emitted from a biowaste storage lagoon in the Arkansas River bottom in Crawford County. Penny Weaver, arkansasonline.com, 2 Jan. 2025 How To Get Rid Of And Remove Smells From Enameled Cast Iron Additionally, baking soda and warm water can alleviate cooking odors emitted from the cast iron. Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 20 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for odor 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for odor
Noun
  • But studying videos and simply growing up with Williams’ aura invading pop culture informed his performance.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Aura Nails Call in the good vibes, love, and positive energy this Valentine’s Day with aura nails.
    Audrey Noble, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Our tester loved the soothing scent and that the heating pad didn’t look like a medical device.
    Bianca Lambert, People.com, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Her solution: candle warmers, which heat the candle and diffuse the scent without a flame.
    Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Remember that a few ownership groups have carried reputations in the past for pinching pennies.
    Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
  • On the other hand, with the regulatory investigation over the charity will now likely attempt to move on from a scandal that has dogged its reputation for more than three years and will be able to cling to the finding that there was no misconduct.
    Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • We were enveloped by the smell of smoke, but everything else felt normal.
    Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The stinging in my eyeballs from sweat and sunscreen mixes with the unmistakable smell of rotting flesh.
    Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Espresso is meant to be savored in just a few sips, allowing its rich aromas and bold flavors to shine without distractions.
    Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2025
  • Walk in and you’re greeted by Afro beats and the aroma of spices.
    Mará Rose Williams, Kansas City Star, 2 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Her voice, her public repute, and her dignity — the vanishings of which are all mostly self-steered.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2024
  • The long-term leasing of NNN and the fact that they are commonly leased to reliable tenants of repute minimizes the risk of default and promotes a dependable revenue stream.
    Sudhir Pai, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Fire tornadoes occur when intense wind combines with conditions in the atmosphere to produce clouds of smoke that reach 20,000 to 40,000 feet, Swain said.
    Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
  • The researchers suggest that these white lights arise due to a combination of heating in the ionosphere due to the surrounding aurora, as well as the chemiluminescence of some other gases in the atmosphere, possibly nitrogen dioxide.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The Federal Trade Commission is suing Pepsi for its special deals with a company whose name is redacted.
    Alina Selyukh, NPR, 17 Jan. 2025
  • The firm highlighted a few names that fit the bill.
    Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 17 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near odor

Cite this Entry

“Odor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/odor. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on odor

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