skunk

1 of 2

noun

plural skunks also skunk
1
a
: any of various common omnivorous black-and-white New World mammals (family Mephitidae, especially genus Mephitis) related to weasels that have a pair of perineal glands from which a secretion of pungent and offensive odor is ejected
b
: the fur of a skunk
2
: an obnoxious or disliked person

Illustration of skunk

Illustration of skunk
  • skunk 1a

skunk

2 of 2

verb

skunked; skunking; skunks

transitive verb

1
a
: defeat
b
: to prevent entirely from scoring or succeeding : shut out
2
: to fail to pay
also : cheat

Examples of skunk in a Sentence

Noun Her brother's a low-down, dirty skunk. he's nothing but a dirty, rotten skunk Verb we ended up skunking them, as our goalie was able to prevent the other team from scoring a single goal our football team consistently skunks our traditional rivals Thanksgiving after Thanksgiving
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
It has been detected in wild animals like bears, foxes, seals, and skunks, domestic animals like cats and dogs, and zoo animals like tigers and leopards. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 4 Oct. 2024 Every night a family of skunks would arrive at Simmons’ back door in West Hollywood, Calif. Jason Sheeler, Peoplemag, 29 July 2024
Verb
And the fact that he’s getting skunked on a rubberlegs stonefly nymph, which should be automatic, is troubling all three of us. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 25 Sep. 2024 Facing a rookie pitcher in the opener of a three-game series at Comerica Park, Colorado got skunked 11-0 in a blowout that goes down as one of the most embarrassing losses in a season full of them. Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for skunk 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'skunk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

earlier squuncke, from a Massachusett reflex of Algonquian *šeka·kwa, from šek- urinate + -a·kw fox, fox-like animal

First Known Use

Noun

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of skunk was in 1634

Dictionary Entries Near skunk

Cite this Entry

“Skunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skunk. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

skunk

1 of 2 noun
plural skunks also skunk
1
: any of various black-and-white North American mammals related to the weasels that give off a fluid with a sharp and unpleasant smell when threatened
2
: a mean hateful person

skunk

2 of 2 verb
: to defeat completely
especially : to prevent entirely from scoring or succeeding : shut out
Etymology

Noun

from a word in Massachusett (an extinct Algonquian language spoken in Massachusetts)

Geographical Definition

Skunk

geographical name

river 264 miles (425 kilometers) long in southeastern Iowa flowing southeast into the Mississippi River

More from Merriam-Webster on skunk

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