1
2
: any of several large petrels that have an offensive odor
3
slang
: something extremely difficult
the examination was a real stinker
Synonyms
- bastard
- beast
- bleeder [British]
- blighter [chiefly British]
- boor
- bounder
- bugger
- buzzard
- cad
- chuff
- churl
- clown
- creep
- cretin
- crud [slang]
- crumb [slang]
- cur
- dirtbag [slang]
- dog
- fink
- heel
- hound
- jerk
- joker
- louse
- lout
- pill
- rat
- rat fink
- reptile
- rotter
- schmuck [slang]
- scum
- scumbag [slang]
- scuzzball [slang]
- skunk
- sleaze
- sleazebag [slang]
- sleazeball [slang]
- slime
- slimeball [slang]
- slob
- snake
- so-and-so
- sod [chiefly British]
- stinkard
- swine
- toad
- varmint
- vermin
Examples of stinker in a Sentence
He is a dirty little stinker.
a real stinker of a performance
Recent Examples on the Web
Here the list of all 15 MLB teams — again, over the past 78 seasons — that have been outscored by that many runs through nine games (and yes, there are a couple of other Tigers stinkers on there): 15.
—
Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2023
The New York Mets have been baseball’s stinker, a team slated to spend nearly $500 million on payroll yet floundering at 42-48, equally likely to dismantle the roster than enhance it.
—Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 11 July 2023
The Celtics, the bookies’ favorites, made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, and stormed back from being down three games to none, only to lose a Game 7 at the Garden in ignominious fashion, turning in a real stinker.
—Globe Columnist, BostonGlobe.com, 13 June 2023
But that pretty arrangement might turn into a real stinker.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 10 May 2023
Since losing Joe Pavelski in Game 1 and falling in overtime, the Stars have flexed superiority and outscored the Wild 15-10 despite a stinker 5-1 Game 3 loss in St. Paul.
—Brad Townsend, Dallas News, 27 Apr. 2023
This defensive stinker under head coach Brandon Staley was an organizational failure that further explained why the Chargers will go a 12th consecutive season — and ninth under top football operations executives Tom Telesco and John Spanos — without winning the four-team AFC West race.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Dec. 2021
Garoppolo, less than a month removed from a howling chorus of calls for his benching, has been among the NFL’s best QBs since his worst moment of 2021, a two-interception stinker against Indianapolis that included a season-worst passer rating (60.9).
—Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Nov. 2021
Only one of the losses was a stinker, a 4-0 setback at Ohio State on Jan. 14.
—Mark Stewart, Journal Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2023
See More
Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2023
The New York Mets have been baseball’s stinker, a team slated to spend nearly $500 million on payroll yet floundering at 42-48, equally likely to dismantle the roster than enhance it.
—Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 11 July 2023
The Celtics, the bookies’ favorites, made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, and stormed back from being down three games to none, only to lose a Game 7 at the Garden in ignominious fashion, turning in a real stinker.
—Globe Columnist, BostonGlobe.com, 13 June 2023
But that pretty arrangement might turn into a real stinker.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 10 May 2023
Since losing Joe Pavelski in Game 1 and falling in overtime, the Stars have flexed superiority and outscored the Wild 15-10 despite a stinker 5-1 Game 3 loss in St. Paul.
—Brad Townsend, Dallas News, 27 Apr. 2023
This defensive stinker under head coach Brandon Staley was an organizational failure that further explained why the Chargers will go a 12th consecutive season — and ninth under top football operations executives Tom Telesco and John Spanos — without winning the four-team AFC West race.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Dec. 2021
Garoppolo, less than a month removed from a howling chorus of calls for his benching, has been among the NFL’s best QBs since his worst moment of 2021, a two-interception stinker against Indianapolis that included a season-worst passer rating (60.9).
—Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Nov. 2021
Only one of the losses was a stinker, a 4-0 setback at Ohio State on Jan. 14.
—Mark Stewart, Journal Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stinker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Dictionary Entries Near stinker
Cite this Entry
“Stinker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stinker. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
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