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

Jeff Goldblum in an oversized ERL tux and skunk collar at the Vanity Fair Oscars party with his wife, Emilie, also in ERL? — Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Luckily, there are plenty of natural and humane ways to keep skunks from digging up your yard. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 5 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