Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

smellfungus

/ˈsmɛlˌfʌŋɡəs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: smell-fun-gus
IPA: /ˈsmɛlˌfʌŋɡəs/

17

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A faultfinder, complainer, grumbler.

Archaic

Example Sentences

"But this want of a softening medium, and consequently, of aerial perspective, is not the defect of the Rhine scenery in particular, but of river views in general. And then it is so rich in equivalents—so strong in picture; a true Smellfungus would exclaim, “Yes; but the pictures are all alike.”"
"Nor is she a smellfungus searching for weeds where roses grow, or setting down everything a wilderness from Braga to Barcelona."

Etymology

From Smelfungus, name of a hypercritical traveller in A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy, a satirical characterization of Tobias Smollett and his Travels Through France and Italy (1766). Apparently from smell + fungus.

Usage

Archaic

Inflected Forms

smellfunguses (plural) smellfungi (plural)

Synonyms

bellyacher carper castigator caviler censurer complainer crabber critic criticizer faultfinder findfault grouch

Questions

How do you pronounce smellfungus?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈsmɛlˌfʌŋɡəs/.
What does smellfungus mean?: A faultfinder, complainer, grumbler.
Where does smellfungus come from?: From Smelfungus, name of a hypercritical traveller in A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy, a satirical characterization of Tobias Smollett and his Travels Through France and Italy (1766). Apparently from smell + fungus.

How to pronounce smellfungus

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “smellfungus”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈsmɛlˌfʌŋɡəs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “smellfungus”.
Repeat and practice — Say “smellfungus” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.