1
: to emit a strong offensive odor
stank of urine
2
: to be offensive
the election stank of corruption
also
: to be in bad repute
3
: to possess something to an offensive degree
stinking with wealth
4
: to be extremely bad or unpleasant
the performance stank
that news really stinks
Examples of stink in a Sentence
Verb
The food is good at that restaurant, but the service stinks.
Having a root canal stinks.
Noun
People raised a stink about the new law.
He kicked up a stink about the way he'd been treated.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025
Neutralizing Odors Odor absorbers help reduce closet stink.
—Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2025
Caroline Tien, SELF, 7 Feb. 2025
Losing stinks, but losing on your opponent’s terms stinks worse.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stink
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Verb
But what if these don’t work and the rug stinks or still looks dirty?
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025
Neutralizing Odors Odor absorbers help reduce closet stink.
—Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2025
Noun
Sulfur-containing strains are primarily responsible for the stink.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 7 Feb. 2025
Losing stinks, but losing on your opponent’s terms stinks worse.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stink
Cite this Entry
“Stink.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stink. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.
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