as in dog
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
he's nothing but a dirty, rotten skunk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to bomb
to defeat by a large margin
we ended up skunking them, as our goalie was able to prevent the other team from scoring a single goal
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to defeat
to achieve a victory over
our football team consistently skunks our traditional rivals Thanksgiving after Thanksgiving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to sting
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
unwilling to let suppliers skunk him, the restaurant owner inspected every shipment before signing off on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skunk
Deborah Sengupta Stith, Austin American Statesman, 11 July 2025
In Arizona, foxes and skunks were also a common source of rabies infections, according to NPS.
—Laura Gersony, AZCentral.com, 8 July 2025
Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025
At the diner, Case, now 54, wore a dark-blue button-down, and her predominantly gray mane was skunked with a streak of flaming auburn.
—Lindsay Zoladz, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skunk
Noun
Austin Wildlife Rescue has taken in over 120 animals since the weekend including baby squirrels, skunks and turtles.
—Deborah Sengupta Stith, Austin American Statesman, 11 July 2025
In Arizona, foxes and skunks were also a common source of rabies infections, according to NPS.
—Laura Gersony, AZCentral.com, 8 July 2025
Verb
Sam had a sudden flash of some decades old cartoon, an anthropomorphized rabbit or skunk with its jaw dropped, a foghorn like awooga accompanying the lolling of its cartoonishly long tongue.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025
At the diner, Case, now 54, wore a dark-blue button-down, and her predominantly gray mane was skunked with a streak of flaming auburn.
—Lindsay Zoladz, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skunk
Noun
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According to LifeLine, the DeKalb shelter takes in 135 dogs a week on average.—
Jim Gaines,
ajc,
13 Sep. 2023
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The remains were found by two men who were running their dogs and looking for rocks, according to DNASolves.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Sep. 2023
Verb
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The deputy head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is headed to Iran on Monday, the first visit by an official from the top nuclear watchdog since the United States bombed three of the regime’s nuclear sites in June.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Aug. 2025
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Just before Folds stepped onstage for his show, his tour manager held up his phone to show him the news: the U.S. had bombed Iran.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Kinloch closely defeated former THAW CEO Saunteel Jenkins in the city's Aug. 5 primary to advance in the race, according to unofficial vote results on the city's website.—
Dana Afana,
Freep.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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The Minutemen lost to East Carolina in the 1964 Tangerine Bowl in Orlando and defeated UC-Davis in the 1972 Boardwalk Bowl in Atlantic City.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As for the number of people stung, the beach patrol doesn’t have numbers.—
Todd Karpovich,
Baltimore Sun,
30 July 2025
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The other hallmark symptoms include swelling—especially around the lips, eyelids or extremities—and a burning or stinging sensation in affected areas.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Flow Space,
23 July 2025
Verb
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Guests sit on a patio, or at The Congregation, munching on pizzas topped with olives, feta and zaatar, smoked chicken and buttermilk ranch or simple pepperoni.—
Lyndsay C. Green,
Freep.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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If that all speaks to you, smoked suede brunette might just be the one for you.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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What’s particularly telling is that this versatility has been mastered out of necessity for women athletes and teams.—
Lindsey Darvin,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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First, find all of the pieces, then master the art of folding each one into a rectangle, leaving one pillowcase off to the side.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This year has already seen examples of AI systems willing to deceive, cheat and steal to achieve their goals.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
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And rebuilding trust – as anyone knows who has lied or cheated – is far harder than protecting it.—
Teresa Ghilarducci,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Carnival Midway’s cast of trapeze artists, aerialists, jugglers and clowns perform every hour on the half hour, starting at 1:30 p.m. (on weekends, the show kicks off at 11:30a.m.).—
Alex Schechter,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Aug. 2025
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Guests were surrounded by a surreal landscape of vanishing walls, floating furniture, and a creepy clown with a menacing smile.—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skunk. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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