1
as in stench
a strong unpleasant smell
a terrible reek coming from the garbage can
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reek
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
There’s a generally inbred vibe, and that bloody reek of inheritance.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026
When he was lugged in Saugus in 2011, reeking of cheap domestic lager, he was first told to turn off the engine in his unmarked MSP Crown Vic.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reek
Noun
This policy reeks of racial bias.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
There’s a generally inbred vibe, and that bloody reek of inheritance.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
Once Catalina was asleep, Pedro tossed his backpack, reeking of the day’s clothes, into the bedroom.
—Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026
When he was lugged in Saugus in 2011, reeking of cheap domestic lager, he was first told to turn off the engine in his unmarked MSP Crown Vic.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reek
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reek
Noun
-
Here, mismatched buildings sprawl under the heavy stench of diesel and rising humidity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Mar. 2026
-
All around the Tivoli quarries, the air is heavy with the stench of sulfur and the constant pounding, clinking and cracking of giant jackhammers blasting ancient rock into pieces.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
No longer fogged by the haze of a rebuild and a young quarterback.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
-
In 1972, Hannes (Enzo Brumm), a gangly farm boy adrift in a hedonistic haze of hormones and counterculture, stumbles upon a revelation through his contact with a love interest’s geranium.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Now, 122 years of innovating in famously good-smelling hair care later, Garnier is appointing its first brand ambassador.—
Jaimie Potters,
InStyle,
3 Mar. 2026
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Dishes like Indian street corn, pumpkin chana masala, and spicy seafood soup drive home the restaurant’s emphasis on spices and herbs, and an open-air setting allows diners to bask in the sounds and smells of the surrounding rainforest.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
What sounds like a broadcaster’s signature was born from a son trying to reach his father through the fog of a degenerative disease.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Patchy fog may linger in the morning.—
Brandi D. Addison,
IndyStar,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For this to be a win for the Avalanche, Roy’s decline needs to have more to do with fit, system and general Leafs stink than Roy’s own personal failings.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
In parts of Arizona, stinknet (Oncosiphon piluliferum) really stinks.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Under the late afternoon clouds, the water appears murky, too dark to hold a reflection of the soot- and algae-stained warehouses on the pier.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
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That is central to Apple's push to make the Mac a more credible platform for running advanced AI tools locally — an increasingly important capability for businesses that want to keep sensitive data off cloud servers.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As a bonus, the fragrance of these hand-sanitizing mists is great, with scents like watermelon, mint, and lemon-lime.—
Terri Peters,
Parents,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Aveda’s mist is composed of potent plant extracts and utilises natural UV filters that form a light shield around the strands to block out harmful rays.—
Hannah Coates,
Vogue,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reek.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reek. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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