Definition

A bad smell that is unpleasant and often strong.

Example

The malodor from the garbage made it hard to breathe.

Conversation

Did you notice that strange malodor coming from the fridge?

Yeah, I thought it was just me! What do you think it is?

I think it might be that leftover pizza we forgot about.

Ugh, that makes sense. We should definitely clean it out.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Malodor → It is formed from "mal-" (meaning bad) and "odor" (from Latin "odor", meaning smell). The word "malodor" refers to a bad smell or unpleasant odor.

Memory Tip

Think of 'mal-' meaning bad and 'odor' meaning smell — together they describe an unpleasant smell.

Visually Confused Words