musky
1 Americanadjective
noun
plural
muskiesadjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- muskiness noun
Etymology
Origin of musky1
First recorded in 1600–10; musk + -y 1
Origin of musky2
Explanation
A musky smell might make you close your eyes and smile, or it might make you leave a room. Either way, it’s a very strong and sweet odor that's hard to ignore. Musk is a scent that deer secrete to convince a mate to cuddle with them, and so a musky odor often does the same for humans. But not always! A woman wearing musky perfume might inspire you to ask her on a date, but sometimes rotting fruit smells musky as well. Hard to know whether smelling musky is a good or bad thing. If you can’t decide, just go scent-free.
Vocabulary lists containing musky
The Nose Knows: Olfactory Vocabulary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words: April 13–19, 2019
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Wild Robot Escapes
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
From the musky floral Another 13 and Western desert Santal 33 to elegant tea-inspired offering Thé Noir 29, my next signature scent awaits.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2025
The goat was "nasty and mean", smelled "disgusting, musky, rancid", and would chase her young children, knocking them down.
From BBC • Apr. 26, 2024
What outrageous crimes did the goat, whom she described as “disgusting, musky, rancid,” commit other than needing a bath?
From Salon • Apr. 26, 2024
The plant uses a musky odor to lure fungus gnats that usually feed and lay their eggs on mushrooms into their cup-shaped flowers.
From Science Daily • Feb. 19, 2024
With that precaution they tried to postpone the necessity of having to eat macaws, whose blue flesh had a harsh and musky taste.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
