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

Example 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 An alkaline compound, baking soda is a non-toxic cleaner with a coarseness that works wonders for scrubbing grime, removing difficult stains, and deodorizing stinky odors. Lauren David, Southern Living, 26 Mar. 2025 Fresh Step Heavy Duty Litter Tackling one of the biggest challenges facing pet parents, Fresh Step Heavy Duty Litter offers a 30-day odor control guarantee - Fresh Step's strongest odor-fighting formula yet. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025 The caked-on gunk, grease and grime can cause bad odors, smells or even impact taste over time. Cody Godwin, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025 This versatile liquid, which is probably already in your kitchen cabinet, is great for cutting through grease, removing stains, neutralizing odors, and tackling a variety of household tasks, like making the bathtub sparkle. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for odor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for odor
Noun
  • In this scenario, the most likely outcome would involve Punk pinning Seth Rollins, providing a decisive conclusion to their ongoing feud with a clear pinfall victory, while strategically preserving Roman Reigns' aura of dominance and mystique by avoiding a direct pinfall loss to Punk.
    David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Like Napoleon’s Uncle Rico, who dwells on his long-ago high-school-football days, Garrett is living in the faded aura of past glory: in his case, a 1989 video-game championship.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Prouvost engage audiences in quantum fundamentals not through complex explanations of concepts like qubits, but through video and sound developed with a quantum computer, as well scent and sculptural elements reflecting quantum phenomena.
    Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Bring them into your home, too — at least the scent of them with this Yankee Candle.
    Nicol Natale, People.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • His reputation has been restored and reaffirmed at Villa, with a setup that enables him to concentrate on footballing matters and possess a level of oversight rarely seen among modern-day managers.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Tagovailoa is still trending upwards from a developmental standpoint, but needs to shed his fragile reputation.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But the smell of desperation is still palpable, Axios Closer author Nathan Bomey writes.
    Mike Allen, Axios, 7 Apr. 2025
  • This scent can be used to mask the smell of peppers as well as tomatoes.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • These fragrant groundcovers offer pleasing aromas and colorful flowers.
    Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The restaurant’s lushly landscaped garden is ready to seat as many as 1,000 customers, and the aromas of cheese enchiladas and fajitas—recipes perfected over 89 years—fill the air.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The rabbis, both of high repute, belong to different generations and display differing levels of stringency—the stricter is a grandfather; the other, his son-in-law, is more lenient but by no means lax.
    Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Her voice, her public repute, and her dignity — the vanishings of which are all mostly self-steered.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • More than 2,300 rocket bodies orbiting the Earth can't be controlled and will eventually reenter the atmosphere, according to Nature.com.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The ensemble even included someone whose sole purpose was to deliver tequila shots to the musicians and hold Junior H’s red solo cup, generating a party atmosphere both onstage and in the audience.
    Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • My name was in the news, the gossip sites, even on the billboards around town.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The Beijing International Film Festival has unveiled that an exhibition featuring 150 posters for the movie hand-painted by director Yang Yu, who goes by the name Jiaozi, will take place during its 15th edition, which runs April 18-26.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Odor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/odor. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on odor

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