fetor
Deeply offensive odor
Fetor is a strong, foul smell—particularly one associated with decay or disease.
The word is formal and mostly confined to medical contexts: the fetor of gangrene, hepatic fetor.
Outside clinical settings, stench or reek serve the same purpose without the Latin.
Unpleasant, offensive smell
- reekEmit strong odor
- stinkOffensive smell
- foulnessOffensive, corrupt quality
- miasmaHarmful atmospheric emanation
effluvium · pungency · rankness · noisomeness · mustiness · moldiness · acridity · gaminess
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- sepsisDangerous inflammatory infection response
- gangreneTissue death from bloodlessness
- abscessLocalized pus collection
- woundCoiled, or an injury
ulcer · necrotic · suppuration · pus · diseased · pathological · putrid · malodorous
Bacterial breakdown of tissue
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- rotOrganic breakdown process
- necrosisLocalized cell death
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
spoilage · carrion · gangrene · cadaverous · moldering · putrescence · fester · perishing
Liquid refuse in drains
- garbageDiscarded waste material
- cesspoolUnderground waste receptacle
- latrineBasic outdoor toilet
- sewerUnderground drainage pipe
swamp · bog · stagnant · slaughterhouse · tannery · sulfur · ammonia · cadaver
Intense physical disgust
- nauseaPre-vomiting stomach discomfort
- repugnanceIntense distaste or disgust
- loathingIntense, settled disgust
- abhorrenceExtreme hatred or disgust
aversion · recoil · gagging · retching · shudder · distaste · queasiness · heaving
malodor
Unpleasant, offensive smell
miasma · effluvium · pungency · rankness · noisomeness · mustiness · moldiness · acridity · gaminess · sulfurous
infection
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- sepsisDangerous inflammatory infection response
- gangreneTissue death from bloodlessness
- abscessLocalized pus collection
wound · ulcer · necrotic · suppuration · pus · diseased · pathological · putrid · malodorous · festering
putrefaction
Bacterial breakdown of tissue
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- rotOrganic breakdown process
- necrosisLocalized cell death
corruption · spoilage · carrion · gangrene · cadaverous · moldering · putrescence · fester · perishing · disintegration
sewage
Liquid refuse in drains
sewer · swamp · bog · stagnant · slaughterhouse · tannery · sulfur · ammonia · cadaver · offal
revulsion
Intense physical disgust
- nauseaPre-vomiting stomach discomfort
- repugnanceIntense distaste or disgust
- loathingIntense, settled disgust
abhorrence · aversion · recoil · gagging · retching · shudder · distaste · queasiness · heaving · stomach-turning