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
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of skunk
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
1 July 2026
Because spotted skunks are relatively rare in California wildlife rehabilitation centers and in the surrounding area, there were no other skunks of his kind available to keep him company.
—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
Alex Robinson,
Outdoor Life,
16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skunk
Noun
Hence, bright lights and sprays of water will make skunks want to flee your yard.
—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
1 July 2026
Because spotted skunks are relatively rare in California wildlife rehabilitation centers and in the surrounding area, there were no other skunks of his kind available to keep him company.
—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
Verb
That means two out of three Minnesota turkey hunters are going skunked this spring.
—
Alex Robinson,
Outdoor Life,
16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skunk
Noun
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What breaks my heart is that Vermax’s cries sounded like a dog crying, a dog dying.
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Roughly the size of a large dog and weighing more than 110 pounds (50 kilograms), the quadruped robot is designed to navigate industrial facilities that include staircases, narrow walkways, uneven surfaces, and confined spaces.
Verb
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After easing through the first three innings, Bryan Reynolds hit a double off the top of the left field fence and Valdez bombed one to left to cut the Phillies' lead to 5-2.
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There is a bond there that is strong enough, that overwhelming loneliness is bombed.
Verb
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Huffines defeated Kelly Hancock, a longtime Abbott ally who the governor appointed to the seat in July.
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In the early matchups, Ecuador upset Germany, Ivory Coast beat Curaçao 2-0, the Netherlands defeated Tunisia 3-1, and Japan and Sweden tied 1-1.
Verb
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Home Depot and rival Lowe’s must also confront a weak housing market, which has been stung by stubbornly high interest rates and rising building material expenses.
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Christie Ray/Queen Bee Supply via AP A photojournalist from CBS affiliate KDFM also captured video despite being stung , the station reported.
Noun
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The only leaders more buffoonish and lethal than the fairground hucksters elected in our failing democracies are the omnipotent clowns of tyranny.
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Up until his first day of filming Jackass, Steve-O was a clown in nightclubs, cruise ships and at a flea-market circus.
Verb
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The column underscores scientific warnings that smoke from the warehouse, including fine particulate matter and combustion byproducts from refrigerants and solar panels, can acutely harm lungs and carry long-term cancer risks, especially for children, pregnant people and older adults.
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In the corner, a young John Adams sulks, uninterested in the dancing and gossip and instead opting to smoke a pipe and watch.
Verb
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With life spent largely on transit, navigating tight layovers, and using their days off to jet-set across the globe, flight attendants have mastered the art of packing.
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Netanyahu, 76, has spent decades mastering political theater, sharp messaging and grand performances.
Verb
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The fans were cheated Sunday out of a chance to see an interesting pitching matchup between Shota Imanaga and Dylan Cease, the former Cubs farmhand and former White Sox pitcher.
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For example, a spouse who catches their partner cheating and kills someone in the heat of emotion.
Cite this Entry
“Skunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skunk. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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