musty

¹

[muhs-tee]

adjective

mustier, mustiest 

1. having an odor or flavor suggestive of mold, as old buildings, long-closed rooms, or stale food.

   Synonyms: stale, moldy, dank

2. obsolete; outdated; antiquated.

   musty laws.

3. dull; apathetic.

musty

²

[muhs-tee]

noun

plural

musties 

1. (formerly) a kind of snuff having a musty flavor.

musty

/ ˈmʌstɪ /

adjective

1. smelling or tasting old, stale, or mouldy

2. old-fashioned, dull, or hackneyed

   musty ideas

Other Word Forms

• mustiness noun
• mustily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of musty¹

1520–30; perhaps variant of moisty ( Middle English; moist, -y ¹ ) with loss of i before s as in master

Origin of musty²

First recorded in 1700–10; noun use of musty ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of musty¹

C16: perhaps a variant of obsolete moisty, influenced by _must ³

Example Sentences

The sharp tang of the tar and the musty, earthy smell of the observation pits meant a day of play and exploration.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite a series of renovations several years ago, the park still had a bygone, musty air.

From Los Angeles Times

Although the troubles of our world never bled into “What We Do in the Shadows,” the story never shied away from politics within its own musty, rotten realm.

From Salon

In conclusion, she says with more than a hint of sass, “For all the cranky, musty, dusty adults out there who think little kids shouldn’t be using skin care ... get it together!”

From Los Angeles Times

"I wouldn't want to drink water that has an earthy and musty taste, but it is safe," she added.

From BBC

Related Words

• airless 
• ancient 
• crumbling www.thesaurus.com
• dank 
• decrepit 
• fetid 
• moldy 
• putrid 
• smelly 
• squalid 
• stale 
• stuffy