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
Example Sentences
a putrid shade of green the putrid remains of a dead raccoon on the side of the highway
Recent Examples on the WebFor a city that has long struggled with a variety of air quality nuisances — including acrid odors from refineries and the putrid stench of decaying bacteria in the Dominguez Channel — the prospect of additional air testing was greeted warmly. Tony Briscoestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2022 The bloom’s putrid scent is designed to attract carrion-consuming rainforest beetles and flesh flies that pollinate the tiny florets at its center to produce seed berries.San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2021 Eventually the pens themselves can become putrid as their mesh is clogged by mussels and seaweed. Richard Adams Carey, WSJ, 29 July 2022 Meanwhile, Morbius couldn’t even meme its way to success, making a paltry $163 million globally to go along with putrid reviews. Jacob Siegal, BGR, 19 July 2022 What lay on the pillow was a charnel-house, a heap of pus and blood, a shovelful of putrid flesh. Namwali Serpell, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022 Seattle converted half of its six chances Tuesday, while the team supposedly benefitting by the creature comforts of home ended 1-for-11 and a putrid 1-for-17 in the two-game series. Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2022 Likewise, Keller has seen his ERA soar since, going from 1.38 following that loss to 4.56 after his ninth loss of the season, a 9-7 stinker against the similarly putrid Athletics on Saturday. Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 1 July 2022 For years, pollution from septic systems has spawned algae blooms, toxic bacteria, and a putrid scum coating the waters of Cape Cod, destroying vital ecosystems, contributing to coastal erosion, and harming tourism. David Abel, BostonGlobe.com, 17 May 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Latin putridus, from putrēre to be rotten, from puter, putris rotten; akin to Latin putēre to stink — more at foul entry 1