stink

1 of 2

verb

ˈstiŋk 

stank ˈstaŋk  or stunk ˈstəŋk  ; stunk; stinking

intransitive verb

1

: to emit a strong offensive odor

stank of urine

2

: to be offensive

the election stank of corruption

also : to be in bad repute

3

: to possess something to an offensive degree

stinking with wealth

4

: to be extremely bad or unpleasant

the performance stank

that news really stinks

stinky

ˈstiŋ-kē 

adjective

stink

2 of 2

noun

1

: a strong offensive odor : stench

2

: a public outcry against something : fuss

made a big stink when asked to leave

Synonyms

Verb

• smell
• reek

Noun

• stench

Examples of stink in a Sentence

Verb

The food is good at that restaurant, but the service stinks.

Having a root canal stinks.

Noun

People raised a stink about the new law.

He kicked up a stink about the way he'd been treated.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Broncos cannot keep winning this way, by stinking for long stretches, then creating goosebumps that leave us running for the history books. —Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025

Otherwise the food may rot or the dust collection bag will grow mold, causing your vacuum to stink. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025

Noun

Follow our steps to clean the trash can liner, eliminating germs and the stink in the process. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025

Even on the gaming front, the Xenomorphs are going strong with great Alien games like Aliens: Dark Descent and Aliens: Fireteam Elite, eradicating the stink that 2013's Aliens: Colonial Marines left hanging over the franchise. —Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English stincan; akin to Old High German stinkan to emit a smell

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stink

• kick up a fuss/stink
• raise a stink
• stink bomb
• stink bug
• stink eye
• stink out
• stink up
• stink up the joint

Rhymes for stink

• blink
• brink
• chink
• cinque
• clink
• dink
• drink
• fink
• hink
• ink
• kink
• klink

Kids Definition

stink

1 of 2 verb

ˈstiŋk 

stank ˈstaŋk  or stunk ˈstəŋk  ; stunk; stinking

1

: to give off or cause to have an unpleasant smell

the garbage pail stinks

2

: to be very bad or unpleasant

that news really stinks

stinker noun

stink

2 of 2 noun

1

: a strong unpleasant odor : stench

2

: a public outcry against something : fuss

made a big stink when asked to leave

stinky

ˈstiŋ-kē

adjective