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

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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
Ahead of the new college basketball season, Staley’s Gamecocks were ranked second in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 behind the defending champion UConn Huskies when the poll was released on Tuesday. George Ramsay, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025 Wisconsin is ranked among the worst in the country for college affordability, according to a new report. Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
Prior to her time at Ulta, Steelman began her career as an assistant store manager at Target in 1993 before climbing the ranks at the big box retailer. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025 That hasn’t necessarily translated to rank-and-file staff, who have viewed the moves with greater suspicion. Max Tani, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Cosby’s good guys do things that outpace the rankest villainy in the work of other crime writers. Vulture Editors, Vulture, 8 July 2025 Just last week, as millions of Americans took to the skies, June 27 and June 29 now rank as the seventh and eighth busiest days respectively in TSA history, pushing 2025 to claim six of the agency's top 10 busiest days on record. Doc Louallen, ABC News, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for rank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank
Verb
  • There is no minimum size requirement on any fish.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Shanahan said the plan was for Pinnock to play big nickel against the Buccaneers but that there weren’t any scenarios for that alignment during the game.
    Matt Barrows, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Related Stories In a nutsell, the test arranged by the cutter’s union documented that AI tools are great for organizing, classifying and summarizing.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Police and the media classified Gacy’s victims as male prostitutes and homosexuals, using that as an excuse to marginalize and blame them.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Charlotte entered the day with a -7 turnover margin, ranking 129th out of 134 FBS schools.
    Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2025
  • The ranking leans heavily on the chances for a coach to succeed there.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This is an affront to human dignity and that’s incredibly terrifying.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
  • There was such a sense of dignity to the four-poster bed, such elegance.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Tuttle grows more than 30 varieties of apples in orchards split up across the 200-acre farm, about a quarter of the acreage is devoted to long rows of apple trees.
    Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The results weren't perfect — for the third quarter in a row, Wells Fargo missed the consensus estimate for NII, a crucial revenue source for traditional banks.
    Jeff Marks, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Cornejo secured a nomination for best contemporary Mexican music album, and DannyLux earned a nomination in the same category.
    Thania Garcia, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Fares vary based on numerous factors, from cruise line type to cabin category – and sailing date.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • What makes the Gen Z movement so dangerous to African leaders is that the continent is home to some of the world’s poorest countries, and unemployment is rampant, particularly among young people who make up over half of the population.
    Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The race for the two Western Conference wild-card places is coming down to a four-way shootout this weekend, with the Bulls needing a victory over the rampant division leaders to avoid relying on at least one of Real Salt Lake, Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes dropping points.
    Jack Bantock, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Four plays, 76 yards, in 25 stinking seconds.
    David Aldridge, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Rank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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