Word: fetid (adjective)

Associations

The word "fetid" describes something that smells very bad, usually in a strong, unpleasant, and often rotten way.

• The fetid smell of garbage made it hard to stay near the trash bin. Here, "fetid" shows a strong bad smell.
• After the rain, the fetid swamp gave off a terrible odor. This means the swamp smelled rotten or decayed.
• The fetid breath of the dragon scared the villagers. This example uses "fetid" to describe a very bad breath. A synonym is "stinky," but "fetid" is stronger and more formal, often used in writing or serious descriptions. "Stinky" is more casual and less intense.

Substitution

You can replace "fetid" with:

• "foul" (also means very bad smell, but can also mean morally bad)
• "putrid" (means decayed and smells bad, similar intensity)
• "rank" (very strong and unpleasant smell) Each word changes the tone slightly. "Foul" is more general, "putrid" focuses on decay, and "rank" is very strong and sometimes rude.

Deconstruction

"Fetid" comes from Latin "fetidus," meaning "having a bad smell."

• No prefix or suffix; it is a root adjective. This word is often used in literature and formal speech to describe smells that are offensive and strong.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a place or thing that might have a fetid smell?
• How would you describe a fetid smell to someone who cannot smell?
• Have you ever experienced a fetid odor? What was it, and how did it make you feel?