stink 1 of 2

stink

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
King’s Chapel was established in 1683 as the first Anglican church in New England, which was settled starting in 1620 by dissenters who wanted a theocracy and religion shorn of folderol, cant, and the stink of popes and kings. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 19 July 2025 Because even without the political stink, the Tesla’s financial outlook is suddenly looking notably worse. Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 8 July 2025
Verb
Of all the questionable advice pinging around social media platforms, this one really stinks—literally. Ashleigh N. Deluca, Parents, 16 Sep. 2025 So, if the economy stinks, why is the stock market so delighted? David Goldman, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stink
Noun
  • There was seemingly a healthy respect between the players, like opposing superstars Virat Kohli and Babar Azam sharing a laugh in an enduring image, in what was a snapshot of the possibilities when the stench of politics is absent.
    Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The family claimed their house was plagued with blood-curdling screams, foul stenches and other terrors: Jack Smurl and one of his daughters had been tossed around the house, as was the family’s pet German shepherd.
    Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And by Tuesday afternoon, Texas National Guard troops had arrived at a training center outside of Chicago — despite the vehement objections of local leaders, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
    Juliana Kim, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025
  • But these objections miss the point.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Loaded with fresh herbs, celery, and poultry seasoning, this cornbread smells like Thanksgiving in a skillet.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Now everybody smells what The Rock is cooking – even Oscar.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • With water levels low, getting liquid past the filters felt like sucking mud.
    Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Governments, on the other hand, can’t be the market, setting prices, or sucking the oxygen out of enterprise with excessive regulation.
    Kingsley Moghalu, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The previous head-coaching exception window was 30 days which began the day after the coaching change.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Fortunately, this one from Kate Spade is the exception.
    Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Thousands of skeletal creatures were lying on bunks unable to move, while dead bodies were piled in heaps all around the camp, reeking of putrefaction.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
  • What initially reeked of hometown fantasy appears to have real legs.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Kidman's complaint, obtained by The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network, confirmed the two are living in separate Nashville homes.
    KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The grand jury indictment supersedes the criminal complaint and allows the criminal case to skip the preliminary hearing phase and move toward a trial.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • To the question earlier about Dak, that’s one of the great things about having a veteran quarterback.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025
  • But unanswered questions have frustrated some parents.
    Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stink. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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