reek 1 of 2

noun

ˈrēk How to pronounce reek (audio)
Definition of reeknext
1
as in stench
a strong unpleasant smell a terrible reek coming from the garbage can

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in haze
an atmospheric condition in which suspended particles in the air rob it of its transparency couldn't see through the reek of smog and smoke surrounding the steel plant

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reek

2 of 2

verb

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

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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
Pig fear had the same sour reek as our fear. — Will MacKin, New Yorker, 28 June 2026 And when the wind whips, the air reeks of a potent campfire — but no campers are around. — Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
Verb
The Phillies still trailed, and the move reeked of desperation from Mattingly, who is desperate because his team cannot score runs. — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 31 May 2026 Today, a checkerboard of subdivisions crosses east to west, and the remaining grasslands are buried each day under reeking asphalt and rolls of turfgrass. — Maggie Slepian, Longreads, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for reek
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reek
  1. stench
  2. haze
  3. smell
  4. fog
  5. stink
  6. cloud
  7. mist
Noun
  • Despite its sulfuric stench, in a stroke of absolute luck, this meteorite crashed into the right house.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 15 July 2026
  • In the mornings, our counselors still walk, slowly now, through the stench of bodies decomposing under the ruins of schools, mosques, and homes.
    — James Gordon, Time, 14 July 2026
Definition of stench
Noun
  • Smoke from wildfires in Canada has poured into the United States, causing air quality to plummet and masking landscapes in a thick, brown haze.
    — Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Wildfire smoke consists of microscopic particulate matter, ash and trace minerals that, combined with water vapor, create the haze effect.
    — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 17 July 2026
Definition of haze
Verb
  • Inside, the 40 sheep that were included in the scene made things smell a bit unpleasant.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 17 July 2026
  • Similarly, deodorizing products like baking soda and charcoal filters can keep your trash from smelling and ultimately attracting fruit flies, Messenger says.
    — Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 16 July 2026
Definition of smell
Noun
  • The theater has wind, water, fog, scent, snow, lightning, and vibration effects to capture the feel of being inside the movie.
    — Zuri Primos July 18, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
  • Nass suggests the Gray Lady, a citrusy gin concoction that borrows the nickname for Nantucket’s fog.
    — Sarah Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026
Definition of fog
Verb
  • In Toilet Base Regularly cleaning your toilet with water and vinegar will keep the smells away, but will also clean any of the germs that fester in and around your toilet and make the area stink, according to Knoll.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 6 July 2026
  • Also, more significantly, Trump’s approval ratings — in a word — stink.
    — Mark Barabak, Mercury News, 20 June 2026
Definition of stink
Noun
  • Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
  • Despite its correction, EWZ remains in a cyclical bull trend as defined by the weekly cloud model, denoted by the shaded area on the chart, which provides support for the uptrend aligned with former resistance near $34.
    — Katie Stockton, CNBC, 13 July 2026
Definition of cloud
Noun
  • There are a great deal of Nordstrom Anniversary Sale fragrance exclusives, like a Parfums de Marly Signature Fragrance Duo set and a Diptyque eau de parfum and hair mist set, plus discovery and travel sets from Le Labo, Hermès and more.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
  • Packing a hydrating mist In much of Europe, the heat is intense, especially during the summer.
    — Jamie Davis Smith, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2026
Definition of mist

Browse Nearby Words

reefs
reek
reeked
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Cite this Entry

“Reek.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reek. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of reek for Spanish Speakers

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