stink 1 of 2

1
as in to smell
to give off an extremely unpleasant smell the dog stinks because she tangled with a skunk again

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in to suck
to be objectionable or unsatisfactory their team really stinks this year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stink
Noun
Jalisco managed to be both underwater and, in one area, covered in stink. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025 Sulfur-containing strains are primarily responsible for the stink. Caroline Tien, SELF, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
The Bears usually stink at home and provide little to no fan amenities for an overall negative experience. Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025 Ensuring your clothes are washed semi-regularly will give you benefits when talking to people, so don't walk around stinking. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stink
Noun
  • In Goma, a city of two million, the stench of death and the sounds of sirens wafted over the streets for days.
    Guerchom Ndebo, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Balda posits that the stench of Fort Worth’s Stockyards, carried north by prevailing winds, also dissuaded any big migrations toward the county line.
    Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The Missouri Senate on Monday easily approved a state takeover plan for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department over the objections of the city's mayor and local senators.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Many Israelis see Gazan emigration as a good idea but not practical There has been little vocal objection from prominent opposition politicians in Israel.
    Daniel Estrin, NPR, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The girl’s breath smelled of sleep, just slightly stale—no time for mouthwash, toothpaste, in her haste to see him.
    Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Let all this go unchecked, and your oven will either look bad, smell bad, or both.
    Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 16 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • That’s the fun thing for me, is there’s no reason the next one couldn’t suck back in and be a chamber piece again.
    Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022
  • Despite its appearance, the hummingbird’s tongue doesn't suck up nectar like a drinking straw.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
Noun
  • Today, economic uncertainty is a constant, not an exception.
    Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The California Department of Human Resources recently released statewide guidance on exceptions to the return-to-work order.
    William Melhado, Sacramento Bee, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • When your chip bags spilled over and your idols reeked and all your friends tried to kill you.
    Jessica Furseth, hazlitt.net, 4 Jan. 2025
  • But European diplomats complained that the negotiation reeked of colonialism, an era of exploitation when Western countries held up smaller nations for commodities, in return for protection.
    David E. Sanger, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • According to the complaint, Henley organized a birthday party at Deja Vu for himself in December 2021.
    Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Myers told The Ranch Podcast that the decision to remove the poster wasn’t in response to any complaint.
    Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Neither company asked the vital questions that drive impactful decision-making.
    Sherzod Odilov, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Complications developed surrounding those severe injuries, putting Cauley’s career in serious question.
    Justin Ray, The Athletic, 16 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stink. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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