as in dog
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
he's nothing but a dirty, rotten skunk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to bomb
to defeat by a large margin
we ended up skunking them, as our goalie was able to prevent the other team from scoring a single goal
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to defeat
to achieve a victory over
our football team consistently skunks our traditional rivals Thanksgiving after Thanksgiving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to sting
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
unwilling to let suppliers skunk him, the restaurant owner inspected every shipment before signing off on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skunk
Jolene Almendarez, The Courier-Journal, 28 Dec. 2024
Dogs, skunks, foxes, coyotes and even squirrels can all be affected.
—Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2024
Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 15 May 2024
In a remarkable, odds-defying losing streak, the 67-year-old composer has been skunked on every nomination, including the past seven years in a row.
—Tyler Coates, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for skunk
Noun
Rabies is usually spread through bites or scratches of infected animals – typically skunks or bats in Kentucky.
—Jolene Almendarez, The Courier-Journal, 28 Dec. 2024
Dogs, skunks, foxes, coyotes and even squirrels can all be affected.
—Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2024
Verb
The premise was that the Minnesota Timberwolves were trying to reconnect in this series after getting skunked twice at home.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 15 May 2024
In a remarkable, odds-defying losing streak, the 67-year-old composer has been skunked on every nomination, including the past seven years in a row.
—Tyler Coates, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for skunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skunk
Noun
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The remains were found by two men who were running their dogs and looking for rocks, according to DNASolves.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Sep. 2023
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This included four search dogs, three doctors, a diving team and a water extraction contingent, Tunisia’s state news agency TAP reported.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN,
13 Sep. 2023
Verb
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This feud would come to an end on an episode of Monday Night Raw in August 2023 when Owens power bombed Ezekiel onto the ring apron, causing him to be stretchered backstage.—
Jeremy Hanna,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 May 2025
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President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement on Tuesday that the United States would stop bombing the Houthis in Yemen, insisting that the rebel group had agreed to stop attacking U.S. ships in the Red Sea.—
Michelle Stoddart,
ABC News,
6 May 2025
Verb
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His last loss came in January 2019, when Geoff Neal defeated him via decision.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
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Perhaps their most memorable face-off came in 2021, when Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers famously defeated Patrick and the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
3 May 2025
Verb
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That play — not even a full turnover, mind you — is what stings a full year later.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
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Malone, who gets Mincemeat’s best song, still looks like a favorite in his category, and Mincemeat did get recognition for its score (written by three of its stars, members of the same comedy troupe), but the lack of enthusiasm elsewhere must sting.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
1 May 2025
Verb
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Less people are smoking cigarettes these days, and that’s a very good thing.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
4 May 2025
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After matching Yamamoto zero for zero (in both runs and hits) in the early going, the Atlanta right-hander suffered a bad break in the fourth, when Betts smoked a 94-mph comebacker off his backside for the night’s first hit.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2025
Verb
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There were experiments with clay, pigment and glazing that were unsuccessful but persistence, dedication and desire to master the craft eventually reaped rewards.—
Blue Carreon,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
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Comments Penn Badgley is revealing the unusual acting technique that he’s mastered after five seasons of You.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Niemann, a grandmaster, beat Carlsen in an upset in a 2022 match, leading Carlsen to withdraw from the tournament and setting off wild speculation about whether Niemann could have cheated, though no such allegations were ever proven.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
27 Apr. 2025
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Neither team cheats for offense, every inch of ice is hard-earned.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Clown Alert This post is a scaredy-cat guide designed mostly for viewers who suffer from flight anxiety, but some people are scared of clowns too.—
Anne Victoria Clark,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2025
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The teaser does feature a glimpse at Calypso, the man who hosts the tournament, as well as a signature laugh from Sweet Tooth the terrifying clown.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skunk. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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