Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Lacking odor: "smellless" describes something that does not have any smell, either pleasant or unpleasant. It is the opposite of "smelly" or "fragrant."

Usage Examples

• (The water has no detectable odor.)
• (The room had no lingering smells.)
• (The substance has no odor.)

Advanced Usage

• "smellless as air": a poetic or emphatic way to describe something with no scent at all.

  • The flower was dried and preserved, but it was as smellless as air. (It had lost all its fragrance.)

• "smellless and tasteless": a common pair used to describe substances that lack both odor and flavor, often in scientific or safety contexts.

  • Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas because it is smellless and tasteless. (It cannot be detected by human senses.)

Variants and Related Words

• Smell (noun/verb): the ability to perceive odors; the act of perceiving odors.

  • The smell of fresh bread filled the kitchen. (A specific odor.)
  • I can smell the coffee from here. (To perceive by the nose.)

• Smelly (adj): having a strong, often unpleasant, odor.

  • The garbage is smelly and needs to be taken out. (It has a bad smell.)

• Smelliness (noun): the quality of having a strong odor.

  • The smelliness of the cheese was overwhelming. (The intensity of its odor.)

Synonyms

• Odorless: having no smell (most common synonym).

  • The gas is odorless, so a warning agent is added for safety. (No detectable odor.)

• Scentless: without any scent, often used for flowers or perfumes.

  • This variety of rose is nearly scentless. (It lacks fragrance.)

• Unscented: specifically not having an added or natural fragrance (often for products).

  • She uses unscented soap to avoid allergic reactions. (No fragrance added.)

Antonyms

• Smelly: having a strong odor.
• Fragrant: having a pleasant smell.
• Odorous: having a distinct smell (neutral or positive).

Related Idioms

• "Smellless as a stone": an idiom meaning completely without odor, emphasizing inertness.

  • The old book was as smellless as a stone, with no trace of mustiness. (No detectable odor.)

• "Neither smell nor taste": used to describe something that has no sensory impact.

  • The medicine was designed to be neither smell nor taste, to make it easier for children to take. (It is odorless and flavorless.)