redolent
adjective
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Redolent traces back to the Latin verb olēre ("to smell") and is a relative of olfactory ("of, relating to, or connected with the sense of smell"). In its earliest English uses in the 15th century, redolent simply meant "having an aroma." Today, it usually applies to a place or thing permeated with odors. Scent and memory are famously linked, and an extended use of redolent to mean “evocative” or “suggestive” links them again, as in “lollipops redolent of childhood.”
Synonyms
- ambrosial
- aromatic
- fragrant
- perfumed
- savory
- savoury
- scented
- sweet
Example Sentences
Bon Appétit, 18 Dec. 2019 But while their observations are interesting, their presence in the film (and the clips from the production) seem more redolent of star power than insightful historical commentary. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Oct. 2019 The spaghettoni al limone is especially strong, a twist on the Southern Italian dish with a redolent fruitiness that seems to infuse every pasta strand. Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2019 So soothing, so redolent of simpler times (which is sort of my ZIP Code). Chris Erskine, latimes.com, 3 July 2019 The finished pickles are slightly salty, redolent with herbaceous Mexican oregano and laced with chipotle smoke, followed by the sharper heat of fresh jalapeño. SFChronicle.com, 26 July 2019 David D’Orio’s arsenal, a dozen weapons made of colorful glass, are too redolent of Flash Gordon serials to frighten. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 21 June 2019 The elegiac score by Lisa Gutkin and Aaron Halva is redolent with the buoyant melancholy of klezmer. Charles Mcnulty, latimes.com, 11 June 2019 When Jeffrey Kalinsky opened his eponymous store in New York’s Meatpacking district in the late 90s, the neighborhood was still redolent with the industry that gave it its name. Olivia Martin, Town & Country, 30 Aug. 2018 See More Word History
Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin redolent-, redolens, present participle of redolēre to emit a scent, from re-, red- + olēre to smell — more at odor
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
redolent
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- fragrant
- aromatic
- scented
- perfumed
- sweet
- spicy
- pungent
- ambrosial
- fresh
- savoury
- savory
- odorous
- flowery
- odiferous
- odoriferous
- fruity
- pure
- odored
- clean
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fetid
- putrid
- malodorous
- reeking
- stinking
- rancid
- noisome
- smelly
- strong
- stinky
- foul
- rank
- fusty
- musty
- reeky
- stale
- skunky
- odorless
- unscented
- stenchy
- stenchful
- gamy
- gamey
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of redolent are aromatic, fragrant, and odorous. While all these words mean "emitting and diffusing scent," redolent applies usually to a place or thing impregnated with odors.
In some situations, the words aromatic and redolent are roughly equivalent. However, aromatic applies to things emitting pungent often fresh odors.
The words fragrant and redolent can be used in similar contexts, but fragrant applies to things (such as flowers or spices) with sweet or agreeable odors.
The words odorous and redolent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, odorous applies to whatever has a strong distinctive smell whether pleasant or unpleasant.