reek 1 of 2

reek

2 of 2

verb

as in to smell
to give off an extremely unpleasant smell those old sneakers reek something awful

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 reek
Noun
Remnants of the explosion The area near the explosion still reeks of sulfur two months after the tragedy, and shrapnel remains scattered at the compound and surrounding farmland. Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025 The reek began to overwhelm the culinary artistry of the chefs, who shot resentful glances at the weighing station. Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
The question came up after her husband came to bed with hair that reeked of a campfire. Rachel Flynn, People.com, 26 June 2025 Healey, who is up for reelection next year and whose approval ratings have dipped, staged a photo op in her Statehouse office with Marcelo Gomes da Silva on Friday that reeked of political opportunism and ickiness. Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for reek
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reek
Noun
  • There was seemingly a healthy respect between the players, like opposing superstars Virat Kohli and Babar Azam sharing a laugh in an enduring image, in what was a snapshot of the possibilities when the stench of politics is absent.
    Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The family claimed their house was plagued with blood-curdling screams, foul stenches and other terrors: Jack Smurl and one of his daughters had been tossed around the house, as was the family’s pet German shepherd.
    Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Bees and wasps flitted together on yellow flowers, and as the day wore on, gnats clumped in beams of sunshine to make a kind of haze.
    Blair Braverman, Outside, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Improved lighting techniques in the perpetually dark Raccoon City police station made for a vastly scarier and immersive atmosphere than the pixelated haze of before.
    George Yang, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Brew a pot of dark-roasted coffee to make your kitchen smell pleasant.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Why not throw Lady Gaga into that potent and sweet-smelling stew of Hollywood talent?
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Scientists in Austria and France have developed a new imaging method that can reveal objects hidden behind opaque materials such as sand, fog, or even human tissue, potentially opening new frontiers in medical diagnostics and sensing technologies.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Everything was a plush bath mat with a rubber backing that did little but trap mold and stink.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2025
  • When shoe stink ruins a perfectly good rack.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • An excellent crosser of the ball, though, so every cloud.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • At its core, the cloud is a model analogous to electricity, water, and other utilities; computing is a commodified service, generated at a remote location (in this case, a data center) and delivered through a network (here, the internet).
    Asad Ramzanali, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Cloudstate floats with airy softness, moving like mist, while Summercore blends presence and lightness for endless summer days.
    SJ Studio, Sourcing Journal, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Formulated with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and the same botanical oil blend as Weleda’s iconic Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream, this milky mist refreshes thirsty skin during both dry winter days and long afternoons spent in stale office air.
    Lily Wohlner, Allure, 8 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reek.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reek. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

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