Similes are fun figures of speech that compare two different things using the words like or as. People use them to make their writing and speaking much more descriptive and exciting to read. In this article, you are going to learn sixty wonderful similes that describe bad breath or stinky smells coming from someone’s mouth.
In this lesson, we’ll look at similes for bad breath that mean stinky, foul, and unappealing. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Similes for Bad Breath
1. As foul as old trash
Meaning: This means breath that smells completely disgusting and revolting.
For Example: When he opened his mouth to talk, his breath smelled as foul as old trash. / The stale odor from the locker room felt as foul as old trash.
Other Ways to Say: Grossly smelly / Reeking bad
2. Like a garbage dump
Description: This describes a breath odor that is messy, dirty, and atrocious to smell.
For Example: After eating garlic and onions, his mouth smelled like a garbage dump. / The stale morning air in the room felt like a garbage dump.
Other Ways to Say: Total mess / Pigsty condition
3. As rotten as a stale egg
Meaning: This means breath that has completely decayed and smells utterly terrible.
For Example: When she spoke across the desk, her breath was as rotten as a stale egg. / The old lunch smell left in his mouth was as rotten as a stale egg.
Other Ways to Say: Fully decayed / Completely spoiled
4. Like a swamp monster
Description: This describes breath carrying a sticky, gross, and swampy stench.
For Example: He breathed out a sigh after running laps that smelled like a swamp monster. / Her morning breath felt like a swamp monster hiding in her throat.
Other Ways to Say: Muddy stench / Slimy odor
5. As bad as poison
Meaning: This means breath that is extremely unpleasant and hard to stand near.
For Example: His morning breath hit her nostrils as bad as poison. / The strange smell when he spoke was as bad as poison.
Other Ways to Say: Harmful odor / Toxic whiff
6. Like a toxic waste dump
Description: This describes an extremely filthy, dangerous, and disgusting breath odor.
For Example: After the spicy meal, his breath smelled like a toxic waste dump. / She covered her nose because his breath smelled like a toxic waste dump.
Other Ways to Say: Filthy mess / Gross pile
7. As sour as vinegar
Meaning: This means breath that has a sharp, sour, and unpleasant smell.
For Example: His breath turned as sour as vinegar after drinking spoiled milk. / The stale odor coming from his mouth was as sour as vinegar.
Other Ways to Say: Bitter smell / Sharp odor
8. Like a smelly gym sock
Description: This describes an unwashed, sweaty, and stale odor coming from someone’s mouth.
For Example: He forgot to brush his teeth, and his breath smelled like a smelly gym sock. / The old food smell in his mouth was like a smelly gym sock.
Other Ways to Say: Sweat odor / Stale smell
9. As dry as dust
Meaning: This means breath coming from a parched, dry mouth that smells stale.
For Example: After sleeping all night with his mouth open, his breath was as dry as dust. / The dusty air from his lungs felt as dry as dust.
Other Ways to Say: Parched breath / Lifeless odor
10. Like a decaying log
Description: This describes breath that smells like old, rotting wood on the forest floor.
For Example: When he coughed, his breath carried a scent like a decaying log. / The stale odor from skipping brushing smelled like a decaying log.
Other Ways to Say: Rotted wood / Forest rot
11. As foul as an open sewer
Meaning: This means an intensely disgusting and unbearable breath smell.
For Example: His breath after eating the weird snack was as foul as an open sewer. / She stepped back because his breath was as foul as an open sewer.
Other Ways to Say: Sewer stench / Gross odor
12. Like a dead fish
Description: This describes a fishy, rotting smell coming from someone’s mouth.
For Example: After eating tuna for lunch, his breath smelled like a dead fish. / The stale odor when he talked was like a dead fish.
Other Ways to Say: Fishy stench / Reeking sea
13. As harsh as a chemical spill
Meaning: This means a powerful, burning breath odor that clears the room.
For Example: The mint candy mixed with old coffee made his breath as harsh as a chemical spill. / Her strong breath felt as harsh as a chemical spill.
Other Ways to Say: Burning odor / Sharp chemical
14. Like an unwashed dog
Description: This describes a fuzzy, hairy, and wet-dog style bad breath odor.
For Example: He hadn’t brushed his teeth in two days, and his breath smelled like an unwashed dog. / The stale air from his mouth felt like an unwashed dog.
Other Ways to Say: Wet dog / Animal smell
15. As bitter as gall
Meaning: This means a breath odor that carries a deeply harsh and unpleasant taste and smell.
For Example: The medicine-laced breath tasted and smelled as bitter as gall. / His morning breath felt as bitter as gall.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply harsh / Bitter odor
16. Like a stagnant pond
Description: This describes old, still water that smells gross and swampy in the mouth.
For Example: His unbrushed morning breath smelled like a stagnant pond. / The stale air in his throat was like a stagnant pond.
Other Ways to Say: Still water / Swampy air
17. As reeking as a skunk
Meaning: This means a powerful, unmistakable stench radiating from someone’s mouth.
For Example: When he opened his mouth, his breath was as reeking as a skunk. / The room filled with an odor as reeking as a skunk when he spoke.
Other Ways to Say: Skunk spray / Heavy stink
18. Like a pile of wet leaves
Description: This describes earthy, rotting foliage smells coming off someone’s breath.
For Example: His breath after chewing on strange yard plants smelled like a pile of wet leaves. / The stale autumn odor in his mouth was like a pile of wet leaves.
Other Ways to Say: Rotting leaves / Earthy stink
19. As heavy as fog
Meaning: This means a thick, dense breath odor that hangs heavily in the air.
For Example: His morning breath rolled across the table as heavy as fog. / The dense odor from his mouth was as heavy as fog.
Other Ways to Say: Thick air / Heavy mist
20. Like a burning tire
Description: This describes a harsh, chemical, and terrible burning breath smell.
For Example: The weird candy he ate made his breath smell like a burning tire. / The foul odor when he exhaled was like a burning tire.
Other Ways to Say: Burning rubber / Toxic smoke
21. As sharp as a needle
Meaning: This means a piercing, stinging breath odor that hurts your nose.
For Example: The onion odor on his breath was as sharp as a needle. / Her strong garlic breath felt as sharp as a needle.
Other Ways to Say: Piercing smell / Stinging odor
22. Like a moldy basement
Description: This describes a damp, fungal, and stale breath smell.
For Example: His unbrushed morning breath smelled like a moldy basement. / The stale air coming from his mouth was like a moldy basement.
Other Ways to Say: Damp mildew / Musty smell
23. As strong as ammonia
Meaning: This means a sharp, stinging chemical odor coming from deep in the throat.
For Example: The pungent smell of his breath hit her as strong as ammonia. / His stale morning breath was as strong as ammonia.
Other Ways to Say: Sharp punch / Chemical sting
24. Like a rotten onion
Description: This describes a sharp, decaying vegetable odor on someone’s breath.
For Example: After eating raw sandwich toppings, his breath smelled like a rotten onion. / The stale scent in his mouth was like a rotten onion.
Other Ways to Say: Spoiled bulb / Onion stink
25. As dark as a cave
Meaning: This means a deep, heavy, and mysterious bad breath odor from the stomach.
For Example: The deep stomach odor on his breath felt as dark as a cave. / His heavy morning breath was as dark as a cave.
Other Ways to Say: Deep odor / Heavy breath
26. Like a dirty birdcage
Description: This describes a dusty, stale, and animal-like bad breath smell.
For Example: His neglected teeth made his breath smell like a dirty birdcage. / The stale morning air in his mouth was like a dirty birdcage.
Other Ways to Say: Dusty cage / Pet store stink
27. As pungent as garlic
Meaning: This means a sharp, spicy, and overwhelming food breath odor.
For Example: The Italian dinner left his breath as pungent as garlic for hours. / Her spicy snack made her breath as pungent as garlic.
Other Ways to Say: Strong garlic / Pungent spice
28. Like a spoiled carton of milk
Description: This describes a sour, curdled dairy smell coming from the mouth.
For Example: After drinking old milk, his breath smelled like a spoiled carton of milk. / The sour odor in his mouth was like a spoiled carton of milk.
Other Ways to Say: Curdled sour / Spoiled dairy
29. As sick as a dog
Meaning: This means a breath odor that makes you feel physically ill to smell.
For Example: His flu-ridden breath felt as sick as a dog when he spoke. / The foul odor was as sick as a dog.
Other Ways to Say: Wretched smell / Sickly odor
30. Like an old leather boot
Description: This describes a stale, old, and leathery bad breath odor.
For Example: His dry morning mouth smelled like an old leather boot. / The stale scent when he opened his mouth was like an old leather boot.
Other Ways to Say: Leather stink / Old shoe
31. As heavy as lead
Meaning: This means a dense, oppressive breath odor that weighs down the air.
For Example: The bad smell from his unbrushed teeth hung in the air as heavy as lead. / His stale breath felt as heavy as lead.
Other Ways to Say: Oppressive odor / Heavy air
32. Like a swamp in summer
Description: This describes a hot, humid, and rotting swamp smell on someone’s breath.
For Example: After playing in the heat without water, his breath smelled like a swamp in summer. / The humid air from his mouth was like a swamp in summer.
Other Ways to Say: Hot swamp / Humid stench
33. As bitter as wormwood
Meaning: This means an intensely harsh, bitter, and unpleasant breath taste and smell.
For Example: The medicine taste in his mouth made his breath as bitter as wormwood. / His stale morning breath was as bitter as wormwood.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply bitter / Harsh odor
34. Like a heap of rotting fruit
Description: This describes a sweet yet disgusting sugary rot smell on the breath.
For Example: The old apple juice left in his mouth smelled like a heap of rotting fruit. / His sweet yet foul breath was like a heap of rotting fruit.
Other Ways to Say: Fruit rot / Sweet decay
35. As sharp as a razor
Meaning: This means a biting, cutting breath odor that stings your nose.
For Example: The mint-masking chemical smell on his breath was as sharp as a razor. / His morning breath cut through the room as sharp as a razor.
Other Ways to Say: Cutting smell / Sharp bite
36. Like a greasy spoon diner
Description: This describes a heavy, fried-food and old-grease breath odor.
For Example: After eating deep-fried snacks, his breath smelled like a greasy spoon diner. / The stale oil odor in his mouth was like a greasy spoon diner.
Other Ways to Say: Fried grease / Diner stink
37. As dry as bone dry wood
Meaning: This means parched, lifeless breath from a completely dry mouth.
For Example: His feverish breath felt as dry as bone dry wood. / The stale air from his lips was as dry as bone dry wood.
Other Ways to Say: Parched wood / Dry air
38. Like a rusty pipe
Description: This describes a metallic, unpleasant taste and smell on the breath.
For Example: The strange metallic odor when he spoke smelled like a rusty pipe. / His morning mouth felt like a rusty pipe.
Other Ways to Say: Metallic stink / Iron odor
39. As sour as spoiled lemon
Meaning: This means a sharp, citrus-gone-bad breath odor.
For Example: The candy he ate turned his breath as sour as spoiled lemon. / Her stale morning mouth was as sour as spoiled lemon.
Other Ways to Say: Bad citrus / Sour rot
40. Like an overflowing gutter
Description: This describes a dirty, clogged, and foul-smelling breath odor.
For Example: His unbrushed teeth produced a breath odor like an overflowing gutter. / The stale scent when he exhaled was like an overflowing gutter.
Other Ways to Say: Clogged drain / Gutter stink
41. As pungent as mustard
Meaning: This means a sharp, spicy, and biting breath smell.
For Example: The sandwich condiment left his breath as pungent as mustard. / His spicy lunch made his breath as pungent as mustard.
Other Ways to Say: Sharp spice / Mustard sting
42. Like a damp cave
Description: This describes a dark, musty, and wet bad breath smell.
For Example: Sleeping with his mouth open gave his breath a scent like a damp cave. / The stale air from his throat felt like a damp cave.
Other Ways to Say: Musty cave / Damp air
43. As heavy as a storm cloud
Meaning: This means a looming, oppressive breath odor that fills a small space.
For Example: His bad breath hung in the elevator as heavy as a storm cloud. / The room filled with an odor as heavy as a storm cloud when he spoke.
Other Ways to Say: Oppressive cloud / Heavy fog
44. Like a decaying tooth
Description: This describes a dental-rot smell coming straight from an uncleaned mouth.
For Example: The neglected cavity made his breath smell like a decaying tooth. / The sharp, bad odor in his mouth was like a decaying tooth.
Other Ways to Say: Dental rot / Cavity stink
45. As sharp as a thorn
Meaning: This means a painful, pricking breath odor that catches you off guard.
For Example: The sudden whiff of his breath felt as sharp as a thorn. / His strong coffee breath was as sharp as a thorn.
Other Ways to Say: Pricking smell / Sharp sting
46. Like a stale beer mug
Description: This describes an old, fermented, and yeasty bad breath smell.
For Example: The leftover beverage residue made his breath smell like a stale beer mug. / The old sour scent in his mouth was like a stale beer mug.
Other Ways to Say: Fermented stink / Yeasty odor
47. As foul as a swamp rat
Meaning: This means a dirty, rodent-like unpleasant breath odor.
For Example: His morning breath smelled as foul as a swamp rat. / The stale odor when he talked was as foul as a swamp rat.
Other Ways to Say: Rodent stink / Filthy smell
48. Like a neglected fish tank
Description: This describes a murky, water-rot bad breath smell.
For Example: His unbrushed teeth smelled like a neglected fish tank. / The stale air in his mouth felt like a neglected fish tank.
Other Ways to Say: Water rot / Fishbowl stink
49. As bitter as aloe
Meaning: This means a sharp, medicinal, and bitter breath odor.
For Example: The herbal drink left his breath as bitter as aloe. / His morning mouth tasted and smelled as bitter as aloe.
Other Ways to Say: Medicinal bitter / Sharp herb
50. Like a burning heap of trash
Description: This describes an atrocious, smoky, and garbage-filled breath smell.
For Example: The weird combination of snacks made his breath smell like a burning heap of trash. / His foul exhale felt like a burning heap of trash.
Other Ways to Say: Trash fire / Smoky garbage
51. As thick as pea soup
Meaning: This means a dense, heavy breath odor you can practically taste in the air.
For Example: His morning breath was as thick as pea soup across the table. / The room air felt as thick as pea soup when he spoke.
Other Ways to Say: Dense fog / Heavy air
52. Like a rotten potato
Description: This describes a distinct, earthy, and foul vegetable rot smell on the breath.
For Example: The forgotten lunch in his locker gave his breath a scent like a rotten potato. / His stale exhale smelled like a rotten potato.
Other Ways to Say: Potato rot / Earthy stench
53. As sharp as mustard gas
Meaning: This means an extreme, eye-watering breath odor from bad food.
For Example: The onion and spice mix on his breath was as sharp as mustard gas. / His foul morning breath hit like it was as sharp as mustard gas.
Other Ways to Say: Eye-watering smell / Extreme odor
54. Like an old horse stable
Description: This describes a farm-like, hay-and-manure bad breath smell.
For Example: After visiting the barn without brushing, his breath smelled like an old horse stable. / The stale odor in his mouth was like an old horse stable.
Other Ways to Say: Barnyard stink / Stable odor
55. As sour as curdled cream
Meaning: This means a spoiled, dairy-heavy sour breath smell.
For Example: The old milk in his coffee turned his breath as sour as curdled cream. / His morning mouth was as sour as curdled cream.
Other Ways to Say: Spoiled cream / Curdled sour
56. Like a stagnant ditch
Description: This describes a muddy, dirty, and foul water ditch breath smell.
For Example: His unbrushed breath smelled like a stagnant ditch after the long run. / The stale air in his throat was like a stagnant ditch.
Other Ways to Say: Muddy ditch / Foul water
57. As pungent as rotten cheese
Meaning: This means a sharp, moldy, and overpowering cheese breath smell.
For Example: The old snack left his breath as pungent as rotten cheese. / His stale mouth odor was as pungent as rotten cheese.
Other Ways to Say: Moldy cheese / Pungent dairy
58. Like a chimney sweep’s rag
Description: This describes a soot-filled, smoky, and dirty breath smell.
For Example: His smoky breath smelled like a chimney sweep’s rag after the campfire. / The stale soot scent in his mouth was like a chimney sweep’s rag.
Other Ways to Say: Sooty rag / Chimney stink
59. As dry as parchment paper
Meaning: This means completely dry, papery, and stale breath from dehydration.
For Example: His morning breath felt as dry as parchment paper. / The stale air from his lips was as dry as parchment paper.
Other Ways to Say: Papery breath / Dry mouth
60. Like a dragon’s fiery cave
Description: This describes a mythical, hot, and intensely smelly breath odor.
For Example: After eating spicy wings, his breath felt like a dragon’s fiery cave. / The hot, foul air from his mouth was like a dragon’s fiery cave.
Other Ways to Say: Dragon breath / Fiery stink
Exercise to Practice
- When he opened his mouth to talk, his breath smelled ________.
- After eating garlic and onions, his mouth smelled ________.
- When she spoke across the desk, her breath was ________.
- He breathed out a sigh after running laps that smelled ________.
- His morning breath hit her nostrils ________.
- After the spicy meal, his breath smelled ________.
- His breath turned ________ after drinking spoiled milk.
- He forgot to brush his teeth, and his breath smelled ________.
- After sleeping all night with his mouth open, his breath was ________.
- When he coughed, his breath carried a scent ________.
- His breath after eating the weird snack was ________.
- After eating tuna for lunch, his breath smelled ________.
- The mint candy mixed with old coffee made his breath ________.
- He hadn’t brushed his teeth in two days, and his breath smelled ________.
- The medicine-laced breath tasted and smelled ________.
Answer Key
- as foul as old trash
- like a garbage dump
- as rotten as a stale egg
- like a swamp monster
- as bad as poison
- like a toxic waste dump
- as sour as vinegar
- like a smelly gym sock
- as dry as dust
- like a decaying log
- as foul as an open sewer
- like a dead fish
- as harsh as a chemical spill
- like an unwashed dog
- as bitter as gall
Conclusion
Learning these fun similes helps you describe bad breath and funny stinky situations in much more creative ways. Instead of using plain words, you can paint a vivid picture in your reader’s mind.
Try using some of these expressions the next time you talk about brushing your teeth or share a funny story with your friends. You will sound like a true vocabulary expert and make your stories much more fun to tell!
