What does odorously mean?
“Odorously” is an adverb describing something perceived through smell, usually with the suggestion that the smell is strong, unpleasant, or impossible to ignore. It describes the manner of an action or condition rather than naming the odor itself: a bin may become odorously ripe, or a corridor may be odorously polluted. The word is not restricted to literal smells and can occasionally be used figuratively for writing or behaviour that seems conspicuously vulgar or suggestive. Compared with the more neutral “smelly,” “odorously” carries a sharper, more literary tone and often implies offensiveness. Its adjective counterpart is “odorous,” while “odoriferous” is a related term that can describe either pleasant or unpleasant smells. The word is relatively uncommon in everyday conversation but useful when a writer wants to emphasize a smell’s intrusive presence.
adverbIn a way that is perceptible by smell, especially in an unpleasant or offensive manner.
- In a manner involving a noticeable, often unpleasant smell.
"The old refrigerator filled the kitchen with a distinctly odorously stale smell."
"The abandoned building stood odorously between the old warehouses."
"She held her nose as the bins became odorously ripe in the summer heat."
“Odorously” does not merely mean “smelly”: it often suggests that the smell is strong enough to announce itself wherever it goes.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does odorously come from?
The word derives from Latin “odōr,” meaning “smell” or “scent,” through the adjective “odorous” and the adverbial suffix “-ly.” “Odor” and “odoriferous” belong to the same Latin root and likewise refer to smell or the production of a noticeable scent. English “odor” is commonly used in American English, while “odour” is the usual British spelling.
How odorously is actually used
This is a relatively uncommon and literary adverb. It is more natural when the smell is unpleasant, strong, or conspicuous than when it is merely faint or pleasant.
Easily confused with odorously
The adverb describes the manner in which an odor is perceived; the adjective “odoriferous” describes something that emits a noticeable or strong smell.
“Odorously” is an adverb modifying a verb, while “odorous” is an adjective describing something that has a noticeable smell.