1
as in stench
a strong unpleasant smell
a terrible reek coming from the garbage can
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell
a reeky riverbank that at low tide smells of rotting fish
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reek
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
Dogs reek of burning plastic The ordinance generally references the burning of household waste and garbage.
—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2026
Maggie Slepian,
Longreads,
14 May 2026
The gangway between the tents opened up to a vast area of benches that reeked of wet dogs under the pressure of texturizing sprays, mousse, rollers, flat irons, and blow-dryers.
—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reek
Noun
Immigrants held at Alligator Alcatraz have reported scarcity of food, cages that reek of urine and use of force.
—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
Dogs reek of burning plastic The ordinance generally references the burning of household waste and garbage.
—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2026
Verb
Today, a checkerboard of subdivisions crosses east to west, and the remaining grasslands are buried each day under reeking asphalt and rolls of turfgrass.
—
Maggie Slepian,
Longreads,
14 May 2026
The gangway between the tents opened up to a vast area of benches that reeked of wet dogs under the pressure of texturizing sprays, mousse, rollers, flat irons, and blow-dryers.
—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reek
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reek
Noun
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The overwhelming stench lingered for weeks, and health officials routinely reminded Kansas Citians that the odor did not carry any disease.
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Lineage officials said that their top priority as of Monday night was addressing the stench permeating over Boyle Heights due to the spoiled food.
Noun
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But this version of Zorro leans instead into broad comedy and an even broader vintage aesthetic including day-for-night shooting and a general soft-focus haze.
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Smoke from the fire has been pushing to the east and northeast, meaning the air quality at popular vacation spots like Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks — which are located far south of the flames — hasn’t been significantly affected beyond some haze sinking into the Bryce area.
Verb
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When choosing a fresh pineapple, look for one that feels heavy and smells lightly sweet near the base.
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Mild scurvy caused bleeding gums, tooth loss and foul-smelling breath.
Noun
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When Ian Happ made the final out of the frame, the umpires convened and called a delay, a rare stoppage because of the fog-shrouded Wrigley Field.
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Dense fog shrouded the Golden Gate Bridge and masked the city's fireworks display.
Verb
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Also, more significantly, Trump’s approval ratings — in a word — stink.
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Otherwise the food may rot or the dust collection bag will grow mold, causing your vacuum to stink.
Noun
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Around the time a helicopter carrying a newlywed couple departed from their North Georgia wedding venue, the skies were potentially rainy and foggy with a 200-foot cloud ceiling, federal officials said in a preliminary safety report about the deadly crash.
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The Weather Prediction Center said the high heat may finally begin to abate from west to east this weekend, with upper temperature limits possibly restricted by clouds and thunderstorms.
Noun
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Water jets sprayed mist onto the crowd of mourners, who mostly wore black, with temperatures set to reach 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit), according to a forecast from the UK’s Met Office.
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Similar to aromatherapy, this relief comes in the form of a mist or spray that mimics a mother’s natural pheromones to offer a sense of safety and protection.
Cite this Entry
“Reek.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reek. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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