musty
adjective
ˈmə-stē 
mustier; mustiest
1
a
: impaired by damp or mildew : moldy
old musty books
musty hay
b
: tasting of mold
musty wine
c
: smelling of damp and decay : fusty
The cellar was musty.
2
a
: trite, stale
musty prose
b(1)
: antiquated
musty customs
(2)
: superannuated
musty slang
mustily
ˈmə-stə-lē
adverb mustiness
ˈmə-stē-nəs
noun 
Synonyms
- fetid
- foul
- frowsty [chiefly British]
- frowsy
- frowzy
- funky
- fusty
- malodorous
- noisome
- rank
- reeking
- reeky
- ripe
- smelly
- stenchy
- stinking
- stinky
- strong
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a dark and musty basement the musty prose of writers who use the same expressions over and over
Recent Examples on the Web These closet dehumidifying crystals eliminate and prevent musty odors by absorbing moisture and removing excess humidity from the air. 
Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, 13 Sep. 2022 One of the most noticeable signs is a musty scent that only seems to fill the room when the air conditioner is running. Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2022 But the old, musty mine soon leads to a high-tech lab where dirt and contamination is the enemy. Seth Borenstein, USA TODAY, 10 July 2022 The dehumidifier is perfect for a single room, easily pulling excess moisture from a bathroom, bedroom, or storage area, to make a better living space for you and keep your space from getting musty or moldy. Annie Burdick, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2022 Great old whiskies manage to blend oak, endless tropical notes and peaches while also managing hay-like and musty aromas. Felipe Schrieberg, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 But the old, musty mine soon leads to a high-tech lab where dirt and contamination is the enemy. Seth Borenstein, USA TODAY, 10 July 2022 Vacuuming may get your floor clean, but there’s a trade-off: the musty, dusty smell vacuum cleaners sometimes release. Lauren Gray, Popular Mechanics, 26 June 2022 Future historians sifting through musty files in the Public Record Office will find an impressive volume of litigation bearing the name Bancoult. Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 15 June 2022 See More
Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, 13 Sep. 2022 One of the most noticeable signs is a musty scent that only seems to fill the room when the air conditioner is running. Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2022 But the old, musty mine soon leads to a high-tech lab where dirt and contamination is the enemy. Seth Borenstein, USA TODAY, 10 July 2022 The dehumidifier is perfect for a single room, easily pulling excess moisture from a bathroom, bedroom, or storage area, to make a better living space for you and keep your space from getting musty or moldy. Annie Burdick, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2022 Great old whiskies manage to blend oak, endless tropical notes and peaches while also managing hay-like and musty aromas. Felipe Schrieberg, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 But the old, musty mine soon leads to a high-tech lab where dirt and contamination is the enemy. Seth Borenstein, USA TODAY, 10 July 2022 Vacuuming may get your floor clean, but there’s a trade-off: the musty, dusty smell vacuum cleaners sometimes release. Lauren Gray, Popular Mechanics, 26 June 2022 Future historians sifting through musty files in the Public Record Office will find an impressive volume of litigation bearing the name Bancoult. Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 15 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
must entry 4
First Known Use
1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
musty
adjective
ˈmə-stē
mustier; mustiest
: smelling of dampness, decay, or lack of fresh air
a musty basement
musty
adjective
1
as in fusty
having an unpleasant smell musty old gym socks Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- fusty
- stinking
- reeking
- stinky
- rotting
- rotted
- smelly
- ripe
- filthy
- fetid
- malodorous
- disgusting
- frowsy
- foul
- strong
- funky
- dirty
- noisome
- rotten
- reeky
- frowsty
- frowzy
- stenchy
- rank
- stale
- rancid
- putrid
- skunky
- bad
- decaying
- vile
- nasty
- decayed
- spoiled
- repulsive
- revolting
- odorous
- offensive
- noxious
- decomposed
- spoiling
- decomposing
- odiferous
- odoriferous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- redolent
- aromatic
- perfumed
- scented
- fragrant
- sweet
- savoury
- savory
- ambrosial
- woodsy
- spicy
- flowery
- fruity
2
as in cliche
used or heard so often as to be dull the musty prose of writers who use the same expressions over and over Synonyms & Similar Words
- cliche
- stereotyped
- tired
- commonplace
- old
- hackneyed
- stale
- cobwebby
- boring
- typical
- shopworn
- clichéd
- timeworn
- obligatory
- threadbare
- trite
- hackney
- cliché
- cardboard
- usual
- dusty
- banal
- well-worn
- tiring
- moth-eaten
- hack
- conventional
- dull
- standard
- heavy
- ordinary
- stuffy
- dry
- normal
- derivative
- stodgy
- platitudinous
- drab
- weary
- canned
- wearying
- unimaginative
- uninspired
- uninteresting
- dreary
- unoriginal
- barren
- arid
- tedious
- tame
- imitative
- ponderous
- monotonous
- bromidic
- stock
- tiresome
- humdrum
- rote
- vapid
- leaden
- colorless
- wearisome
- drudging
- pedestrian
- prosaic
- undramatic
- routine
- pedantic
- flat
- platitudinal
- tried-and-true
- jejune
- numbing
- ready-made
- twice-told
- old-fashioned
- old hat
- cookie-cutter
- ho-hum
- jading
- mind-numbing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- new
- fresh
- original
- unhackneyed
- exciting
- novel
- interesting
- intriguing
- unfamiliar
- enlivening
- stimulating
- strange
- unusual
- engrossing
- energizing
- unclichéd
- invigorating
- unknown
- animating
- engaging
- riveting
- atypical
- involving
- gripping
- extraordinary
- uncommon
- absorbing
- galvanizing
- unaccustomed
- unprecedented
- pioneering
- pathbreaking
- unheard-of
- trailblazing
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of musty are fetid, fusty, malodorous, noisome, putrid, rank, and stinking. While all these words mean "bad-smelling," fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.
a fusty attic
the musty odor of a damp cellar
The synonyms malodorous and musty are sometimes interchangeable, but malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.
malodorous fertilizers
While in some cases nearly identical to musty, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.
a stagnant, noisome sewer
The words putrid and musty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.
the putrid smell of rotting fish
Although the words rank and musty have much in common, rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.
rank cigar smoke
Both stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.
prisoners were held in stinking cells
the fetid odor of skunk cabbage