malodorous, stinking, fetid, noisome, putrid, rank, fusty, musty mean bad-smelling. malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive. stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting. …

Fetid is a fancy way of saying that something smells really bad. From the Latin word meaning "stinking," this adjective has been in use since the early 15th century, which was a particularly fetid time in …

People languish in fetid prisons around the world; those people seek asylum and safety.

fetid in American English (ˈfetɪd, ˈfitɪd) adjective having an offensive odor; stinking

Definition of fetid adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Apr 3, 2026 · Adjective fetid (comparative more fetid, superlative most fetid) Foul-smelling, stinking. I caught the fetid odor of dirty socks.

fetid (ˈfɛtɪd; ˈfiː-) or foetid adj having a stale nauseating smell, as of decay [C16: from Latin fētidus, from fētēre to stink; related to fūmus smoke]

Fetid is a fancy way of saying that something smells really bad. From the Latin word meaning "stinking," this adjective has been in use since the early 15th century, which was a particularly fetid time in …

There are five meanings listed in OED's entry for the word fetid, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Fetid refers to something that has an extremely unpleasant smell or odor; foul-smelling or stinking. It is often used to describe decay or rot, and is synonymous with terms like putrid, noisome, or malodorous.