reeking 1 of 2

Definition of reekingnext

reeking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of reek
as in smelling
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 reeking
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
  • 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
  • But even across the EP’s brief 18 minutes, Hunt makes clear that there are still corners in this world ripe for discovery, mysterious doorways looming in the landscape, waiting to be traversed.
    Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Des Moines school district leaders' plans to transform a deteriorating elementary school into an arts academy could be stalled — or denied — as city leaders say the building is ripe for historic landmark status.
    Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register, 25 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Down 117-112 with less than five seconds remaining, Boston got another triple from Pritchard and a gift from Traore, who missed a foul shot that would have put the game away.
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
  • And Texas has just two foul shots, a season-low for a half.
    Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • 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
  • If the yellowing leaves are limp or mushy, or the soil is smelly, overwatering is the likely culprit.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Sauron was bested by some filthy Hobbitses and their pal, Gollum.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Slightly less filthy than the ones on the balcony, those bricks could have used a coat of paint.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Reeking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reeking. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

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