Synonyms of skunk

skunk 1 of 2

noun

ˈskəŋk 

as in dog

a person whose behavior is offensive to others

he's nothing but a dirty, rotten skunk

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dog
• bastard
• clown
• jerk
• rat
• snake
• joker
• toad
• varmint
• beast
• vermin
• idiot
• swine
• reptile
• creep
• louse
• moron
• brute
• stinker
• bugger
• brat
• buzzard
• heel
• hound
• pill
• rotter
• boor
• blighter
• scum
• fool
• slime
• sod
• so-and-so
• nuisance
• villain
• cur
• son of a gun
• scumbag
• bleeder
• schmuck
• cad
• fink
• lout
• cretin
• bounder
• dirtbag
• crud
• scuzzball
• slob
• barbarian
• sleaze
• chuff
• slimeball
• stinkard
• crumb
• sleazeball
• sleazebag
• savage
• churl
• rat fink
• rascal
• rogue
• nerd
• caveman
• wretch
• scoundrel
• scab
• loudmouth
• pest
• Neanderthal
• lowlife
• booby
• turkey
• miscreant
• dope
• vulgarian
• imbecile
• scamp
• blockhead
• dolt
• jackass
• roughneck
• snot
• goon
• nincompoop
• airhead
• ninny
• doofus
• dink
• snob
• nitwit
• nut
• insolent
• schmo
• dork
• snoot
• nit
• birdbrain
• dweeb
• snip
• half-wit

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hero
• gentleman
• lady
• heroine
• idol
• saint
• angel
• role model

skunk

2 of 2

verb

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

• bomb
• smoke
• overcome
• cream
• skin
• whip
• bury
• dust
• upset
• blow away
• master
• wax
• throw
• trim
• rout
• beat
• smother
• snow under
• thrash
• annihilate
• paste
• shellac
• top
• wallop
• flatten
• worst
• overwhelm
• eat alive
• drub
• beat the pants off
• clobber
• take
• whup
• trounce
• run circles around
• whop
• sweep
• whomp
• score
• lick
• tromp
• best
• wipe the floor with
• succeed
• destroy
• better
• conquer
• cap
• dispatch
• slaughter
• crush
• prevail (over)
• surpass
• triumph (over)
• exceed
• win (against)
• subdue
• hurdle
• vanquish
• finish
• overthrow
• eclipse
• overtop
• knock over
• overpower
• surmount
• knock off
• subjugate
• edge (out)
• ace (out)
• flourish
• outdo
• overbear
• transcend
• overmatch
• outshine
• outdistance
• outfight
• pip
• nose out
• excel
• sink
• outstrip
• break
• upend
• do in

2

as in to defeat

to achieve a victory over

our football team consistently skunks our traditional rivals Thanksgiving after Thanksgiving

Synonyms & Similar Words

• defeat
• master
• overcome
• worst
• beat
• best
• get
• take
• dispatch
• conquer
• stop
• lick
• subdue
• prevail (over)
• get the better of
• triumph (over)
• do down
• trim
• win (against)
• get around
• surmount
• overbear
• overmatch
• succeed
• finish
• upend
• slaughter
• bury
• smoke
• knock for a loop
• skin
• bomb
• cream
• sweep
• crush
• better
• blow out
• snow under
• overwhelm
• blow away
• edge (out)
• upset
• whip
• shellac
• wax
• nose out
• score
• cap
• wallop
• rout
• flourish
• pip
• drub
• thrash
• annihilate
• top
• clobber
• surpass
• trounce
• vanquish
• exceed
• knock over
• overthrow
• overtop
• flatten
• overpower
• eclipse
• excel
• knock off
• outfight
• subjugate
• break
• ace (out)
• outdo
• unseat
• transcend
• outshine
• outdistance
• outstrip

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose (to)
• go down
• fall
• give up
• fail
• go under
• fold
• collapse
• wash out
• flunk
• flop

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

• sting
• cheat
• squeeze
• pluck
• hustle
• stick
• beat
• screw
• hose
• skin
• sucker
• fleece
• bleed
• shake down
• swindle
• euchre
• rip off
• stiff
• do
• trick
• deceive
• rook
• short
• fiddle
• victimize
• gaff
• con
• thimblerig
• ream
• chisel
• chouse
• fool
• mulct
• diddle
• nobble
• take to the cleaners
• flimflam
• take for a ride
• defraud
• bilk
• exploit
• cozen
• shortchange
• wrench
• clip
• milk
• gull
• nick
• sell a bill of goods to
• betray
• bitch
• rope (in)
• do in
• dupe
• extort
• soak
• gouge
• wring
• overcharge
• double-cross
• wrest
• bamboozle
• fast-talk

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of skunk

Noun

Rabies is spread through bites and scratches from infected animals — most often bats, foxes, raccoons and skunks — and is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, though a four-to-five-shot vaccine given after exposure is nearly 100% effective. — The Sacramento Bee Staff, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2026

The National Aviary is likely to announce the skunks' names during the second week of October. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026

Verb

That means two out of three Minnesota turkey hunters are going skunked this spring. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026

Long-term, however, the S&P 500 has skunked the world index, and shows very sign of continuing to do so. — Larry Light, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025