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
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
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
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
Noun
This reeks of Julia, who is probably the only one Adriana would have admitted her real age to.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
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
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
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Plus, used camping gear or exercise equipment can develop a stench when sitting in a stuffy closet for too long.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Oct. 2025
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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
Noun
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Outside, the aroma of turmeric, cardamom, and garam masala mingles with the sweet haze of incense drifting down the street and masking the underworld accused of hiding just around the corner.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
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New Delhi pollution hits five-year high Air pollution in New Delhi hit a five-year high this week, as Diwali fireworks combined with farming fires to shroud the city in a toxic haze.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Your body gets hunger signals from seeing and smelling food.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
26 Oct. 2025
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The cafeteria smelled the same.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Neptune retrograde in Pisces, on the other hand, dissolves the fog of illusion, which also serves as an invitation to confront an emotional truth with clarity and compassion.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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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.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Broncos cannot keep winning this way, by stinking for long stretches, then creating goosebumps that leave us running for the history books.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
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Otherwise the food may rot or the dust collection bag will grow mold, causing your vacuum to stink.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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For players, the potential advantages include a much larger accessible library, the combination of local hardware, cloud, and PC options in a single device, and stronger peripheral and mod support typical of Windows.—
Alex Harrington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
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Chilly air and clouds will be rolling into the Greater Cincinnati area for the last week of October.—
Cheryl Vari,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This can be easily done with a light mist of cooking spray, or by using a swipe of oil or coconut oil.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
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Driving through lush, evergreen rainforest, far past the industrious city of Seattle, a rolling mist creeps in.—
Christina Fang,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reek.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reek. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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