rank 1 of 3

rank

2 of 3

noun

1
as in ranking
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement attained the highest rank in the Freemasons

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in row
a series of people or things arranged side by side rank upon rank of cavalry came thundering down the hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

rank

3 of 3

adjective

1
as in rampant
growing thickly and vigorously covered with trumpet vines so rank you couldn't see the trellis beneath them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rank distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of rank are fetid, fusty, malodorous, musty, noisome, putrid, and stinking. While all these words mean "bad-smelling," rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

How do fusty and musty relate to one another, in the sense of rank?

Both fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.

a fusty attic
the musty odor of a damp cellar

When is malodorous a more appropriate choice than rank?

The synonyms malodorous and rank are sometimes interchangeable, but malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

In what contexts can noisome take the place of rank?

While the synonyms noisome and rank are close in meaning, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

When might putrid be a better fit than rank?

Although the words putrid and rank have much in common, putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

How are the words stinking and fetid related as synonyms of rank?

Both stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells
the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rank
Verb
The Bears ranked second in the NFL in going for it on fourth down last season, attempting 38 times, six behind the league-leading Browns. Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025 Naperville, Illinois, which earlier this year was also named the best place to live in America by Niche, ranked fourth, and Roswell, Georgia, snagged the fifth spot with a Livability Score of 838. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2025
Noun
The Gestapo, Hitler’s secret police, combed the Poles’ ranks in search of men with experience in clandestine resistance organizations. Paul Hockenos, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025 Some of the top coaches in other college sports have opted to leave, either for the professional ranks or early retirement. Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 8 May 2025
Adjective
Only Tokio is expected to remain, albeit in rank 3, while Osaka/Kyoto is expected to fall as far as rank 13 by 2040, down from formerly rank 3. Katharina Buchholz, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 Brownfield to wetlands: Pima county officials plan green future for contaminated facility Finally, John Leos visited Tucson to meet with some of the folks who are trying to clean-up a wastewater treatment plant that, for years, filled surrounding areas with a pretty rank odor. Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 30 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for rank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank
Verb
  • Ten blasts were heard near the airport in the Indian Kashmir city of Srinagar and there were explosions in more locations in the contested region, other security officials added.
    USA Today, USA Today, 11 May 2025
  • Ping-pong balls numbered one through 14 are dropped into the hopper and there are a total of 1,001 possible combinations when four balls are drawn out of the 14, regardless of their order of selection.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 11 May 2025
Verb
  • Boys of Summer is classified as a fougère, a classically masculine scent categorized by herbaceous top notes (usually lavender), a floral heart, and a green, woody base.
    Ariel Wodarcyk, Glamour, 2 May 2025
  • According to the plan, the parade would be classified as a national special security event, and that request has been submitted by the National Park Service and is under review.
    Lolita C. Baldor, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings.
    Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 4 May 2025
  • Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions bought Ring in 2007 in hopes of restoring the outlet to its former glory, though the purchase revived questions about Ring’s proximity to a major promoter, as its rankings were still used to make fights.
    Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • What begins as a calculated attempt to improve his parole prospects evolves into a deeply personal connection with another prisoner, reframing the protagonist’s understanding of dignity, responsibility, and redemption.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 7 May 2025
  • This message of universal human dignity resonated deeply across continents and faiths.
    Faisal Kutty, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 May 2025
Noun
  • The team now sits at .500 after its second loss in a row to the Detroit Tigers, giving up double-digit runs in both outings.
    Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
  • The money factor: Cost of living has topped the list of concerns for these generations for the fourth year in a row.
    Elizabeth Faber, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • People in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell their health care provider.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • There are also three group categories for dance, musical instrument/bands, and vocal groups.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • From waking our brains up 100 times a night to doubling our risk of developing Alzheimer's disease to triggering rampant inflammation, chronic stress is one of the most biologically disruptive forces in modern life.
    Michael Franco May 15, New Atlas, 15 May 2025
  • This high-moisture environment is ideal for mold and mildew, encouraging rampant growth through the affected areas and producing an unpleasant musty smell.
    Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • This is about a team with a top-10 payroll whose GM committed too stinking much of it to dogs that can’t, or won’t, pull the sled.
    Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2019
  • Muttaiah said the man inside the stinking manhole was working without any safety equipment — no gloves, no shoes, no supplemental oxygen.
    Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2019

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Cite this Entry

“Rank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank. Accessed 19 May. 2025.

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