smells strongly

USAGE SUMMARY

"smells strongly" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means that something emits a strong smell or has a strong odor. You can use it in a sentence to describe the intensity of a smell, such as in the following examples: 1. The flowers in the garden smelled strongly of lavender. 2. The garbage in the kitchen smelled strongly and needed to be taken out. 3. The perfume my friend was wearing smelled strongly of musk. 4. The cheese in the fridge smells strongly, I think it may have gone bad. 5. The fire in the fireplace filled the room with a warm, smoky scent that smelled strongly of pine.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

But, respectable or not, that argument smells strongly of academe.

The Guardian - Books

The Texas suite, for instance, smells strongly of leather.

The New York Times - Travel

The latrine still smells strongly of rotting flesh.

The New York Times

The temperature is slightly cooler than other rooms in the facility and smells strongly of naphthalene.

Cornell University

The projection room, its walls painted green and orange, smells strongly of dust and the 1970s.

The Guardian - Film

"This perfume smells strongly," we say, or "The fish tasted strangely".

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

(What?) These changes smell strongly of committee work.

The New Yorker

Savile, she said, smelled strongly of cigars and body odour.

The Guardian

Iguanas walk very slowly and smell strongly of turds.

The New Yorker

"Her skin was cold, and she smelt strongly of semen.

The New Yorker

In Boxer, Beetle, the protagonist had trimethylaminuria, which made him smell strongly of fish.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing scents, be specific about the source of the smell and use "smells strongly" to emphasize its intensity. For example, "The room smells strongly of lavender, creating a calming atmosphere."

Common error

Avoid using "smells strongly" with overly generic descriptors. Instead of saying "It smells strongly of something," specify the scent for a more vivid and impactful description.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smells strongly" functions as a descriptive phrase, where "smells" acts as a verb indicating the sensory experience of odor, and "strongly" modifies it to emphasize the intensity. Ludwig AI validates this usage as standard English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

8%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "smells strongly" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe an intense odor. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It appears most commonly in news and media, as well as in academic contexts. When using this phrase, specificity and vivid descriptions are key to creating impactful sentences. While "smells strongly" is acceptable in various registers, it is crucial to maintain clear descriptions and avoid vagueness. Related alternatives include "has a potent scent" and "emits a strong odor".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has a potent scent

Replaces "smells strongly" with a noun-based description, focusing on the power of the scent.

emits a strong odor

Uses "emits" to emphasize the act of releasing the odor, maintaining the intensity.

gives off an intense aroma

Substitutes "smells" with "gives off" and "strongly" with "intense", using "aroma" to suggest a more pleasant smell.

has a powerful fragrance

Employs "fragrance" to imply a pleasant smell, while "powerful" underscores its strength.

carries a pungent smell

Replaces "strong" with "pungent" indicating a sharp and intense smell, often unpleasant.

is heavily scented

Changes the structure to a passive form emphasizing the presence of a strong scent.

exudes a rich fragrance

Uses "exudes" to convey a sense of emanating fully, and "rich" to enhance the description of the fragrance.

is strongly aromatic

Replaces "smells" with the adjective "aromatic", retaining the sense of a powerful scent.

possesses an overpowering odor

Uses "overpowering" to highlight the intensity of the odor, suggesting it's difficult to ignore.

is imbued with a potent aroma

Replaces "smells" with "is imbued with" and specifies that the aroma is potent.

FAQs

What does "smells strongly" mean?

The phrase "smells strongly" indicates that something has a very noticeable or intense odor. It emphasizes the strength of the scent being emitted.

How can I use "smells strongly" in a sentence?

You can use "smells strongly" to describe various scents. For example: "The perfume "smells strongly" of roses" or "The kitchen "smells strongly" of garlic."

What are some alternatives to "smells strongly"?

Alternatives include "has a potent scent", "emits a strong odor", or "gives off an intense aroma", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "smells strongly"?

Yes, "smells strongly" is grammatically correct. The verb "smells" is modified by the adverb "strongly", indicating the intensity of the smell.