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stink 1 of 2

noun

Definition of stinknext
1
as in stench
a strong unpleasant smell the stink of burned plastic lingered in the kitchen for days after we accidentally melted a spatula on the stove

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in objection
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent many town residents raised an unholy stink about the proposal to increase taxes yet again

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stink

2 of 2

verb

ˈstiŋk How to pronounce stink (audio)
1
as in to smell
to give off an extremely unpleasant smell the dog stinks because she tangled with a skunk again

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to suck
to be objectionable or unsatisfactory their team really stinks this year

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of stink
Noun
There were flakes of gray ash on the rocks, and the choking stink of wet soot. — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 For months, many at City Hall had expected Raman to make a stink if she was yanked from her post, transforming herself into a martyr. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
Injuries stink, and so did the opacity with which the Clippers shared news of their star’s health status. — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Imagine answering the call of nature in a dark, stinking chamber alongside dozens of strangers, all while making pleasant conversation. — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stink
  1. stench
  2. objection
  3. smell
  4. suck
  5. exception
  6. reek
  7. complaint
  8. question
Noun
  • The family lived in a company house beside a petroleum plant; Metze recalled waking as a child to the stench of kerosene.
    — Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The stench of jet fuel, debris and fire from the burning Pentagon spread throughout the city.
    — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of stench
Noun
  • The judge sustained objections when the defense tried to get into some of the caller's specific claims.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • However, the West Berkshire Council had upheld the objections filed in February and, last month, rejected their appeal.
    — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of objection
Verb
  • Cozzi’s colleague eventually checked the office bathroom, which overwhelmingly smelled of cleaning products and alcohol.
    — Lauren del Valle, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Unsuspecting shoppers inevitably will be lured by the delicious smells — and perhaps find their new favorite food court vendor.
    — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of smell
Verb
  • Even the Lindsay Clancy trial — hearing all of those conspiracies is fascinating, and I get sucked down a rabbit hole really quickly.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Some species have as many as 12 legs, while most of them suck up their nutrients using a proboscis.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of suck
Noun
  • With its golf ambassadors, Peter Millar still tends to focus on promoting its golfwear — with a few exceptions, such as an event in the Hamptons last year with Cameron Young where the PGA Tour pro showed up dressed in the brand’s lifestyle product.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
  • After October 19, if that problem falls under one of the new exceptions, those benefits will no longer be legally protected—but airlines can still choose to provide them.
    — Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of exception
Verb
  • The main barn had collapsed, the lodge reeked of pack rats, garter snakes had claimed another building, and one of the cabins was leaning downhill.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The Mystic of my childhood, though, had a modicum of edge — kids with anarchy symbols on their jackets skateboarded outside a coffee shop that reeked of weed, and locals got rowdy at a dysfunctional watering hole called the Draw Bridge Inne.
    — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026
Definition of reek
Noun
  • The final result was visually awkward and earned so many complaints on social media that McLendon-Covey even weighed in at the time.
    — Zack Sharf, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The initial complaint, filed in May 2025, also included false imprisonment and conversion as causes of action, which are not included in the latest complaint.
    — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of complaint
Noun
  • The finding resolves a long-running question about the material’s electrical behavior.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The Aries Full Moon illuminates your domestic 4th house, bringing a family matter, living situation, or question of emotional security into clearer focus.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of question

Phrases Containing stink

Browse Nearby Words

stingy
stink
stinkard
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Cite this Entry

“Stink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stink. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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