musty

adjective

ˈmə-stē 

mustier; mustiest

1

a

: impaired by damp or mildew : moldy

old musty books

musty hay

b

: tasting of mold

musty wine

c

: smelling of damp and decay : fusty

The cellar was musty.

2

a

: trite, stale

musty prose

b(1)

: antiquated

musty customs

(2)

: superannuated

musty slang

mustily

ˈmə-stə-lē 

adverb

mustiness

ˈmə-stē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• fetid
• foul
• frowsty [chiefly British]
• frowsy
• frowzy
• funky
• fusty
• malodorous
• noisome
• rank
• reeking
• reeky
• ripe
• smelly
• stenchy
• stinking
• stinky
• strong

Choose the Right Synonym for musty

malodorous, stinking, fetid, noisome, putrid, rank, fusty, musty mean bad-smelling.

malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells

the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.

a fusty attic

the musty odor of a damp cellar

Examples of musty in a Sentence

a dark and musty basement

the musty prose of writers who use the same expressions over and over

Recent Examples on the Web

Mold Peeling paint, a musty smell, ceiling stains, and spongy-feeling walls are some signs of a moisture issue, and so a high probability of mold growth. —Berit Thorkelson, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2025

Some of his customers swear by it for getting rid of stubborn pit stains and freshening up musty towels, too. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 25 Mar. 2025

The scents of wet earth, musty redwood, bay laurel, eucalyptus, ceanothus, and salty ocean air are alive in my imagination, which means that home is never too far away. —Calin Van Paris, Outside Online, 20 Mar. 2025

Allowing linens the opportunity to air dry will increase their longevity and stop them from getting musty. —Clint Davis, People.com, 23 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

must entry 4

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for musty

• crusty
• dusty
• gusty
• lusty
• rusty
• trusty

Kids Definition

musty

adjective

ˈməs-tē 

mustier; mustiest

1

a

: affected by dampness or mildew : moldy

b

: tasting or smelling of dampness and decay

2

a

: stale entry 1 sense 2, trite

musty proverbs

b

: outmoded, antiquated

musty traditions

mustiness noun