fusty
adjective
Did you know?
Fusty probably derives from the Middle English word foist, meaning "wine cask," which in turn traces to the Medieval Latin word fustis, meaning "tree trunk" or "wood." So how did fusty end up meaning "old-fashioned"? Originally, it described wine that had gotten stale from sitting in the cask for too long; fusty literally meant that the wine had the "taste of the cask." Eventually any stale food, especially damp or moldy food, was called "fusty." Those damp and moldy connotations were later applied to musty places, and later still to anything that had lost its freshness and interest—that is, to anything old-fashioned.
Synonyms
- fetid
- foul
- frowsty [chiefly British]
- frowsy
- frowzy
- funky
- malodorous
- musty
- noisome
- rank
- reeking
- reeky
- ripe
- smelly
- stenchy
- stinking
- stinky
- strong
Example Sentences
New York Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Of course, the news out of Facebook and Meta and recent days has been all about the fusty, 18-year-old legacy app. Andy Meek, BGR, 31 July 2022 Gone are the clapboard shutters and fusty colonial style of the common areas, which have been upgraded to embody a lighter, 1960s vibe of patterned fabrics and polished Carrara marble. Paul Winner, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2022 For Rihanna, now in her third trimester of pregnancy, fusty notions of maternity wear were an easy target. Chioma Nnadi, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2022 The museum’s Fifth Avenue mansion has long been a challenging space in which to show contemporary design and to project a future forward sensibility (the museum aimed to counter its fusty image with a renovation in 2014). New York Times, 8 Feb. 2022 The deliciously macabre displays of taxidermy are a highlight, but the museum also manages to avoid feeling too fusty by bringing in contemporary artists to produce works in conversation with its collections, from Sterling Ruby to Jeff Koons. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2022 Because a bit more quirkiness might not be all bad for this staid, tradition-laden, and wonderfully fusty old game. John Guaspari, National Review, 26 Sep. 2021 Connecticut is grappling with a fusty, outdated state government and an economy hampered by a protectionist impulse, Gov. Ned Lamont told an elite business group this week. Stephen Singer, courant.com, 23 Sep. 2021 See More Word History
probably alteration of Middle English foisted, foist musty, from foist wine cask, from Anglo-French fust, fuist wood, tree trunk, cask, from Medieval Latin fustis
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
fusty
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- musty
- stinking
- ripe
- malodorous
- reeking
- smelly
- frowsy
- stinky
- filthy
- fetid
- funky
- foul
- disgusting
- rotting
- strong
- rotted
- noisome
- frowsty
- rotten
- frowzy
- dirty
- reeky
- stenchy
- stale
- rank
- bad
- rancid
- vile
- nasty
- putrid
- spoiled
- skunky
- decaying
- revolting
- repulsive
- decayed
- offensive
- spoiling
- odorous
- noxious
- odiferous
- odoriferous
- decomposing
- decomposed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- redolent
- fragrant
- aromatic
- perfumed
- sweet
- scented
- savoury
- savory
- ambrosial
- flowery
- woodsy
- spicy
- fruity
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of fusty are fetid, malodorous, musty, 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.
While the synonyms malodorous and fusty are close in meaning, malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.
The meanings of noisome and fusty largely overlap; however, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.
The synonyms putrid and fusty are sometimes interchangeable, but putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.
In some situations, the words rank and fusty are roughly equivalent. However, rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.
Both stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.