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rank

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noun

1
as in ranking
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement attained the highest rank in the Freemasons

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in row
a series of people or things arranged side by side rank upon rank of cavalry came thundering down the hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

rank

3 of 3

adjective

1
as in rampant
growing thickly and vigorously covered with trumpet vines so rank you couldn't see the trellis beneath them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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4

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rank distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of rank are fetid, fusty, malodorous, musty, noisome, putrid, and stinking. While all these words mean "bad-smelling," rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

How do fusty and musty relate to one another, in the sense of rank?

Both fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.

a fusty attic
the musty odor of a damp cellar

When is malodorous a more appropriate choice than rank?

The synonyms malodorous and rank are sometimes interchangeable, but malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

In what contexts can noisome take the place of rank?

While the synonyms noisome and rank are close in meaning, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

When might putrid be a better fit than rank?

Although the words putrid and rank have much in common, putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

How are the words stinking and fetid related as synonyms of rank?

Both stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells
the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

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 rank
Verb
Getty Images Ana Nicholls, EIU's Director of Industry Analysis, tells CNBC Make It that the reason Copenhagen ranked No. 1 was partly due to its higher score in the culture and environment category, which encompasses aspects such as bars, restaurants, sporting events, and occasions. Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 19 June 2025 In May 2024, the largest solar flare since 2017 was detected, ranking at an X-8.7 magnitude. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 19 June 2025
Noun
Right-Wing Reaction: 'Moral Ambiguity When Clarity Was Needed' Even many Republicans broke ranks to criticize Trump. Carlo Versano jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025 After the second strike, which came shortly after Israel severely degraded the upper ranks of Hizbollah in Lebanon—the most powerful of Iran’s proxies—Israel targeted Iranian air defences and missile production facilities, facing little resistance or response. Ali Vaez, Time, 14 June 2025
Adjective
Both of those slots now rank as new peaks for the decades-old title. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 Only Tokio is expected to remain, albeit in rank 3, while Osaka/Kyoto is expected to fall as far as rank 13 by 2040, down from formerly rank 3. Katharina Buchholz, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank
Verb
  • There was a lot of CGI involved to add the sense of height, as well as have the rope.
    Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 28 June 2025
  • There is a road closure on Monarch Highway from exit 225A to I-35 North.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • This component classifies requests and forwards to the WAF just the ones needing inspection, such as dynamic content requests, and offloads the WAF by caching responses.
    Alexander Krizhanovsky, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • The shooting now classified as a-homicide was the third killing reported during a violent weekend in Kansas City, as temperatures soared above 90 degrees across the region.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2025
Noun
  • Michigan’s class began the day at No. 39 in the composite rankings but has started to pick up steam, particularly on the defensive line.
    Austin Meek, New York Times, 24 June 2025
  • Here is what is new at the 2025 BMW Championship: Because only the top 50 golfers in the FedEx Cup rankings will participate in the championship, there is no cut, which ensures that the entire field – barring a withdrawal – will stick around until Sunday’s final round.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • But in a way, that's nothing new; trans people have been fighting for their rights, dignity, and liberation for generations.
    Veralyn Williams, NPR, 25 June 2025
  • Each offering is a place to uplift truth, refuse silence and, through images and words, bear witness to our dignity and power.
    Essence, Essence, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • The loss, the Twins’ sixth in a row, dropped them below the .500 mark at 36-37.
    Jeff Wallner, Twin Cities, 19 June 2025
  • If temperatures tip over the edge and hit 100 degrees, Denver will break its heat record two days in a row.
    Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • The reigning brand champion in the category is Johnnie Walker, which has dominated global whiskey sales throughout the 21st Century.
    Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
  • Fall purchases As fall rolled around, fresh fruit and vegetables continued to dominate in the groceries category while trending items changed to reflect seasonal celebrations.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • Cyberattacks against companies have been rampant for years, but a string of attacks on retail companies have raised awareness of the issue because the breaches can impact customers.
    Ani Freedman, Fortune, 20 June 2025
  • The last election indicated a pivot away from soft-on-crime policies and lax policies on drug use and homelessness that were rampant in the city.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • This is about a team with a top-10 payroll whose GM committed too stinking much of it to dogs that can’t, or won’t, pull the sled.
    Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2019
  • Muttaiah said the man inside the stinking manhole was working without any safety equipment — no gloves, no shoes, no supplemental oxygen.
    Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2019

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Cite this Entry

“Rank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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