STINKING Synonyms: 285 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'stinking' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of stinking are fetid , fusty , malodorous , musty , noisome , putrid , and rank . While all these words mean "bad-smelling," stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting. // prisoners were held in stinking cells // the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

Q: How are the words 'fusty' and 'musty' related as synonyms of 'stinking'?

Both fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age. // a fusty attic // the musty odor of a damp cellar

Q: Where would 'malodorous' be a reasonable alternative to 'stinking'?

The words malodorous and stinking are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive. // malodorous fertilizers

Q: When might 'noisome' be a better fit than 'stinking'?

Although the words noisome and stinking have much in common, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive. // a stagnant, noisome sewer

Q: When is it sensible to use 'putrid' instead of 'stinking'?

The synonyms putrid and stinking are sometimes interchangeable, but putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter. // the putrid smell of rotting fish

Q: When is 'rank' a more appropriate choice than 'stinking'?

In some situations, the words rank and stinking are roughly equivalent. However, rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell. // rank cigar smoke

Q: How is the word 'stinking' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of stinking are fetid , fusty , malodorous , musty , noisome , putrid , and rank . While all these words mean "bad-smelling," stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting. // prisoners were held in stinking cells // the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

Q: How are the words 'fusty' and 'musty' related as synonyms of 'stinking'?

Both fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age. // a fusty attic // the musty odor of a damp cellar

Q: Where would 'malodorous' be a reasonable alternative to 'stinking'?

The words malodorous and stinking are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive. // malodorous fertilizers

Q: When might 'noisome' be a better fit than 'stinking'?

Although the words noisome and stinking have much in common, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive. // a stagnant, noisome sewer

stinking 1 of 3

adjective

ˈstiŋ-kiŋ

Definition of stinking next

as in smelly

having an unpleasant smell came home from their trip to find stinking garbage that had been left in the kitchen

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in drunk

slang being under the influence of alcohol warned her husband not to come home stinking—or he'd be sleeping on the couch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stinking

2 of 3

adverb

as in damn

to a great degree a huge, showy house that screams, "We're stinking rich!"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stinking

3 of 3

verb

present participle of stink

as in reeking

to give off an extremely unpleasant smell the dog stinks because she tangled with a skunk again

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in sucking

to be objectionable or unsatisfactory their team really stinks this year

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word stinking distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of stinking are fetid, fusty, malodorous, musty, noisome, putrid, and rank. While all these words mean "bad-smelling," stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells

the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

How are the words fusty and musty related as synonyms of stinking?

Both fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.

a fusty attic

the musty odor of a damp cellar

Where would malodorous be a reasonable alternative to stinking?

The words malodorous and stinking are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

When might noisome be a better fit than stinking?

Although the words noisome and stinking have much in common, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

When is it sensible to use putrid instead of stinking?

The synonyms putrid and stinking are sometimes interchangeable, but putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

When is rank a more appropriate choice than stinking?

In some situations, the words rank and stinking are roughly equivalent. However, rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

How is the word stinking distinct from other similar adjectives?

prisoners were held in stinking cells

the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

How are the words fusty and musty related as synonyms of stinking?

Both fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.

a fusty attic

the musty odor of a damp cellar

Where would malodorous be a reasonable alternative to stinking?

The words malodorous and stinking are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

When might noisome be a better fit than stinking?

Although the words noisome and stinking have much in common, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

When is it sensible to use putrid instead of stinking?

The synonyms putrid and stinking are sometimes interchangeable, but putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

When is rank a more appropriate choice than stinking?

In some situations, the words rank and stinking are roughly equivalent. However, rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

How is the word stinking distinct from other similar adjectives?

prisoners were held in stinking cells

the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

How are the words fusty and musty related as synonyms of stinking?

Both fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.

a fusty attic

the musty odor of a damp cellar

Where would malodorous be a reasonable alternative to stinking?

The words malodorous and stinking are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

When might noisome be a better fit than stinking?

Although the words noisome and stinking have much in common, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

When is it sensible to use putrid instead of stinking?

The synonyms putrid and stinking are sometimes interchangeable, but putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

When is rank a more appropriate choice than stinking?

In some situations, the words rank and stinking are roughly equivalent. However, rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

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 stinking

Adjective

Not the good, high-altitude ozone that shields us from dangerous UV light, but bad ozone, hovering right above ground level — stinking, brownish, grayish photochemical smog. —

Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026 Their solution to a stinking run was, comically, to rely on less than 23 per cent of possession and pick Madrid off with a classy volley from Martin Satriano, below. —

Phil Hay, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026 This is about a team with a top-10 payroll whose GM committed too stinking much of it to dogs that can’t, or won’t, pull the sled. —

Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2019 Muttaiah said the man inside the stinking manhole was working without any safety equipment — no gloves, no shoes, no supplemental oxygen. —

Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2019 GothamGetty Images Aren't expectant parents Jenna Dewan and Steve Kazee just so stinking cute? —

Emily Dixon, Marie Claire, 3 Dec. 2019 Second, the Huskies covered the spread as the favorite one stinking time? —

Mike Anthony, courant.com, 29 Aug. 2019 The area included a stinking heap: years of goat dung in layers up to a foot thick. —

Michael Greshko, National Geographic, 28 Aug. 2019 Man, that’s one crazy set of numbers, not to mention a stinking pile of horse manure, as the two long-revered defenders continue to make one sensational play after another . . —

Bruce Jenkins, SFChronicle.com, 19 July 2019

Verb

And not some stinking Bradford pears. —

Steve Bender, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2026 While the paramedics tried to decide whether to walk around or step over the stinking trash, a neighborhood’s shock began to bloat. —

Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026 Nix can sling it with Sam Darnold all stinking day. —

Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026 Free yourself from those stinking shackles! —

The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026 The carpets were absolutely stinking of wet cheesy dog. —

Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025 The defense already looks tired of the offense stinking. —

Zac Jackson, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025 But who cares about stinking elections? —

Jackie Calmes, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinking

Adjective

Gasoline is dirty, smelly, toxic, and environmentally reprobate.

— Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2026
This list will answer your questions about flying ones, venomous ones, really fast ones, and smelly ones.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026

Definition of smelly

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stinkers

stinking

stinking up

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“Stinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinking. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

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