skunking

verb

present participle of skunk
1
as in overcoming
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

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2
as in defeating
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 cheating
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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for skunking
  1. overcoming
  2. defeating
  3. cheating
  4. whipping
  5. mastering
  6. stinging
  7. bombing
  8. beating
Verb
  • The biggest event in the sporting calendar drew to a close at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey as Spain were crowned world champions for the second time, overcoming Argentina in one of the most dominant finals in recent memory.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Emotional intelligence, particularly self-awareness, is crucial to overcoming it.
    — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of overcoming
Verb
  • Tsitsipas, who has been through injury turmoil and a cycle of hiring and firing his father, Apostolos, as his coach, took the Swiss Open title in Gstaad, defeating Belgium’s Raphaël Collignon 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-3 to win his first title in over a year.
    — James Hansen, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Spain reclaimed football's biggest prize on Sunday, defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in a tense World Cup final that delivered high drama both on and off the pitch.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 20 July 2026
Definition of defeating
Verb
  • The president used California, a favorite target, to hint that Democrats were cheating.
    — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2026
  • The pair began arguing in Williams’ bedroom, during which Jones shut the door and could be heard accusing her of cheating, per the release.
    — Eleanor Jacobs, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Definition of cheating
Verb
  • The attorney questioned whether a person would be able to smell alcohol at the same time that wind generated by 18-wheelers and other vehicles whipping by on the highway was blowing, as was occurring during the officer’s time with Hampton.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026
  • Zeus and Poseidon are at it again—one hurling thunderbolts, the other whipping the sea into a frenzy.
    — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Definition of whipping
Verb
  • Charli is well on her way to mastering all three mediums spelled out in the title of her new LP, Music, Fashion, Film.
    — Caryn Ganz, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2026
  • From tailored button-downs to cargo pants and jumpsuits, Aniston proves that repeating versatile basics and refining your personal uniform is the key to mastering quiet luxury style.
    — Samantha Sutton, InStyle, 22 July 2026
Definition of mastering
Verb
  • Off the back of her high-profile return to music and very public stinging attack of David Harbour, Prime Video is making a doc about Lily Allen.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 July 2026
  • Symptoms of smoke inhalation include coughing, trouble breathing, wheezing, asthma attacks, stinging eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose and irritated sinuses, headaches, tiredness, chest pain and a fast heartbeat.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 17 July 2026
Definition of stinging
Verb
  • When America and Israel started bombing Iran, our military bombed an elementary school, killing more than 160 children.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026
  • French officials condemned the damage to the ancient monastery, comparing it to bombing Notre-Dame, while Ukrainian religious leaders called it a crime against humanity.
    — Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Definition of bombing
Verb
  • Despite a middling 50-51 record, the Padres are within two games of the National League’s final wild-card spot after beating the Atlanta Braves 8-3 on Tuesday.
    — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • The beating sun, and therefore sweaty, sunburned skin, demands a looser fit that’s light-as-air, and this popover style is perfect to throw on and go.
    — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 21 July 2026
Definition of beating
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.

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skunked
skunking
skunks
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Cite this Entry

“Skunking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skunking. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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