redolent
Americanadjective
-
having a pleasant odor; fragrant.
- Synonyms:
- odoriferous, aromatic, odorous
-
odorous or smelling (usually followed byof ).
redolent of garlic.
-
suggestive; reminiscent (usually followed byof ).
verse redolent of Shakespeare.
adjective
-
having a pleasant smell; fragrant
-
(postpositive; foll by of or with) having the odour or smell (of); scented (with)
a room redolent of country flowers
-
(postpositive; foll by of or with) reminiscent or suggestive (of)
a picture redolent of the 18th century
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of redolent
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin redolent-, stem of redolēns, present participle of redolēre “to emit odor,” equivalent to red- red- ( def. ) + ol(ēre) “to smell” (akin to odor ( def. ) )
Explanation
When something is redolent of something, it makes you think of that thing by making a pretty strong impression on you. He had a shifty eye redolent of years of lying and petty crime. People used to use redolent of something with a strong, distinctive odor. Now, think of it as "stinks of" — but in a fancy way. If you're touring an old castle, you might say that the worn carpet and handsome woodwork are redolent of the place's former glory, though otherwise it's a dump.
Vocabulary lists containing redolent
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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The Great Gatsby
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The Nose Knows: Olfactory Vocabulary
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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.
A slightly sweet, oily scent, redolent of old workshops or antique paraffin lamps.
From BBC • May 3, 2026
While the richly orchestrated productions evoke the mid-1970s, tracks like “Sauna” have a lightly synthetic sheen redolent of the early ’80s.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026
Small gestures of sympathy are everywhere, redolent of locals who are not sure what to do, but nonetheless feel like they ought to do something.
From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026
“Shame Game” has a psychedelic vibe that’s kinda like a hybrid of Strawberry Alarm Clock and Blue Oyster Cult, while the title track has a prog rock vibe redolent of Styx, Rush and Mars Volta.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 17, 2025
The snakes Herbie began to notice shortly after he had established himself in his pathetic redolent smokehouse.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
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.
