reek
verb
reeked; reeking; reeks
1
: to emit smoke or vapor
2
a
: to give off or become permeated with a strong or offensive odor
a room reeking of incense
b
: to give a strong impression of some constituent quality or feature
an accusation that reeks of hypocrisy
3
: emanate
1
: to subject to the action of smoke or vapor
reeker
noun
Examples of reek in a Sentence
those old sneakers reek something awful
Recent Examples on the Web
His shirt reeked of the flowery-formaldehyde tartness of mothballs pickling dress pockets in a closet.
—
Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
The Phillies still trailed, and the move reeked of desperation from Mattingly, who is desperate because his team cannot score runs.
—Matt Gelb, New York Times, 31 May 2026
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
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Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
The Phillies still trailed, and the move reeked of desperation from Mattingly, who is desperate because his team cannot score runs.
—Matt Gelb, New York Times, 31 May 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Reek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reek. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reek
1 of 2 noun1
: vapor sense 1, fog
2
: a strong or disagreeable fume or odor
reek
2 of 2 verb1
: to give off smoke or vapor
2
a
: to have a strong or unpleasant smell
the kitchen reeks of garlic
clothes reeking of tobacco smoke
b
: to give a strong impression of some feature or quality
she reeks of snobbery
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