1
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
2
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
as in damn
to a great degree
a huge, showy house that screams, "We're stinking rich!"
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of stinking
David Aldridge, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
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
But his mechanics were already pretty stinking good.
—Robert Klemko, SI.com, 15 July 2019
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
Adjective
Four plays, 76 yards, in 25 stinking seconds.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
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
But his mechanics were already pretty stinking good.
—Robert Klemko, SI.com, 15 July 2019
Verb
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
-
Remedies like vinegar and baking soda can be used once a month or whenever towels start to become stiff or smelly.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
25 Jan. 2026
-
If the yellowing leaves are limp or mushy, or the soil is smelly, overwatering is the likely culprit.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Reading Cassandra’s voice is like reading The Bell Jar’s Esther if Esther were drunk on brandy half the time.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
As thousands of medical caregivers walked off the job Monday in what became the largest nurses’ strike in New York City history, officials at a major hospital accused the nurses’ union of making unreasonable demands — including protections for nurses who come to work drunk or high.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Victory tastes pretty damn good!—
Kaitlin Stevens,
PEOPLE,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Because the things that go down in Stephen Fishbach’s debut novel are pretty damn dramatic.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Once Catalina was asleep, Pedro tossed his backpack, reeking of the day’s clothes, into the bedroom.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
-
When he was lugged in Saugus in 2011, reeking of cheap domestic lager, he was first told to turn off the engine in his unmarked MSP Crown Vic.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Safety Kam Curl made a sliding catch at the Rams’ 22, and sucking the oxygen out of the 60,253 at Soldier Field.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
19 Jan. 2026
-
This includes applying a tourniquet and cutting, sucking or icing the wound.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Pair it with chocolate desserts or even a stinky cheese like Camembert.—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Use a Small Dehumidifier Bathrooms often have higher moisture levels than other areas of the home, which can create mold, mildew, and musty, stinky odors.—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
That is one of many problems that Zara and Luke go on to dodge, including dead-ends, dead bodies and a drunken mom.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
In 2025, he was twice arrested for drunken driving, with both arrests resulting in a conviction on a charge of first-offense drunken driving.—
Clark Kauffman,
Des Moines Register,
21 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Jeff looks at things very straightforwardly and is damned fearless, right?—
Fortune Editors,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
-
To take just one example from many hundreds, consider this conical, solid brass paperweight from minimalist Swedish firm Les Few, which will weigh down your expense reports and look damned good doing it.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinking. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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