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 of odor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web It's known for its compact size and ability to clean tough stains and odors. Nora Colomer, Fox News, 8 Oct. 2024 The station empties the dust bin easily before cleaning the mop and washboard with super hot water to reduce stains and odors, refilling the water compartment, and drying the mops. Gabriela Vatu, PCMAG, 8 Oct. 2024 The Levoit Air Purifier improves air quality by filtering smoke, allergens like dust and pet dander, and odors. Anamaria Glavan, Allure, 5 Oct. 2024 The bacteria and debris that form the stones can produce sulfur compounds that cause a foul odor. Sarah Hudgens, Health, 5 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for odor 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'odor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near odor

Cite this Entry

“Odor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/odor. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on odor

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