as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell
I would rather not be the one to wash your reeking gym clothes
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reeking
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reeking
Adjective
-
Four plays, 76 yards, in 25 stinking seconds.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
Spot cleaning helps keep your pillow looking and smelling fresh between full washes.—
Anyssa Roberts,
The Spruce,
26 Jan. 2026
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As with baking soda, this technique not only facilitates hair removal but also leaves carpets smelling fresh and clean.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
State government and the legislature are ripe for an audit.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Beyoncé was incredibly kind, with skin like a ripe peach.—
Essence,
Essence,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Citizens Energy customers should be on the lookout for a seasonal greeting from the gas and water utility this winter — with a card that is more fetid than festive.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
10 Dec. 2025
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From the fetid and overcrowded cells of the town’s migrant detention center, officers pick out a Sudanese man who had been arrested the day before.—
Mick Krever,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Vermin, malodorous airs and other issues caused 14 Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach restaurants to fail inspection last week.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
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Democrats are an eye-watering 26 points underwater while Republicans are a more mildly malodorous 11 points beneath the surface.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Early Friday morning, the president of the United States shared on his social media account a foul video that portrayed former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes and himself as a lion.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
7 Feb. 2026
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These toxic elements sat in the channel’s then-stagnant water, which led to a die-off of all vegetation and the emission of foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Empty your washing machine promptly at the end of every cycle to prevent bacteria growth and smelly odors from developing in your damp clothes, advises Palmer-Smith.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
4 Feb. 2026
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Remedies like vinegar and baking soda can be used once a month or whenever towels start to become stiff or smelly.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Over the last several seasons of the Movies Fantasy League, the one thing that’s been more consistent than the movies, the awards, or Timmy Chalamet scoring a hit in December has been all you players coming up with some of the most clever, goofy, dumb, sometimes filthy names for your teams.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2026
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Traditional mops move filthy water, conventional vacuums push fine dust back into the air and cleaning cloths need to be rinsed to maintain hygienic conditions.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reeking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reeking. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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