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rank

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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
She was ranked by ESPN as the No. 36 recruit in the class of 2025. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2025 Tolle, Boston’s second-round pick, is currently ranked No. 49 on Baseball America’s Top 100. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 13 July 2025
Noun
Born in Brooklyn in 1932, Layden began his coaching career in the high school ranks before moving on to coach at his alma mater, Niagara University. Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025 Locke and Connor join the executive producer ranks of the movie alongside Oseman, Lyn, Patrick Walters, Iain Canning, and Emile Sherman, who all served as executive producers on the first three seasons. Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 10 July 2025
Adjective
Forcing priests to divulge confessions, while exempting all manner of secular confessors, is rank religious discrimination. Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 6 May 2025 The purple efforts are beautiful and rank high among the best tube station decor. Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank
Verb
  • But people seem to like it, though there are barely even enough critic or audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes to make heads or tails of its quality.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • There are books upon books upon books, binders about the movie.
    Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • The information, classified as secret, pertained to military targets and Russian military capabilities, according to the plea agreement.
    CBS News, CBS News, 14 July 2025
  • While their exact design and capabilities are classified, Keyhole satellites are believed to provide the sharpest images of any spy satellite in orbit.
    Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images Recently, a new all-time ranking was revealed by Bleacher Report.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
  • Chinese universities have risen steadily in global rankings, with 15 schools in mainland China and Hong Kong listed among the top 100 universities on the 2025-2026 Best Global Universities Rankings, compiled by U.S. News and World Report.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Our communities should not have to rely on court orders to be treated with dignity.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 19 July 2025
  • This religious minority known for its dignity, neutrality, resiliency, and peaceful resistance is now being targeted by Jihadi militias supported by the Syrian regime, with tanks artillery, and heavy weapons.
    Sawsan Natour-Hasson, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
Noun
  • Above the rows of international ingredients hang flags from around the world, welcoming all to find a small piece of home among its many aisles.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 13 July 2025
  • The 10-year-old princess joined mom Kate Middleton, dad Prince William and older brother Prince George at the gentlemen's singles final on July 13, cheering on Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner from the front row of the Royal Box at Centre Court.
    Stephanie Petit, People.com, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • This included a category specific to Texas resort hotels, which were rated on rooms/facilities, location, service, food and value.
    Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 14 July 2025
  • Criminal Justice Danielle Clark, Riverdale High: Natural leadership ability, dedication to her classes and commitment to club organizations like Skills USA Criminal Justice and JROTC led to Clark’s nomination and being the top vote-getter in the criminal justice category.
    Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • The innovation has been rampant, with AI usage evolving from coding assistants led by GitHub Copilot to next-gen vibe coding tools like Cursor and Windsurf (all, coincidentally, built on top of Microsoft’s open source VSCode IDE).
    Jason Andersen, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Crime in New York was rampant, and racial tensions were high.
    Robert Chiarito, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 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 24 Jul. 2025.

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