stinks 1 of 2

noun

plural of stink
as in objections
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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stinks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of stink
1
as in smells
to give off an extremely unpleasant smell the dog stinks because she tangled with a skunk again

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2
as in sucks
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 stinks
Verb
The Movie stinks in a thousand relatively minor and noncommittal ways that end up feeling so much worse than a grand and more personal disaster would. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 The Falcons have already taken a lot of hits on defense, and their quarterback stinks. — Vic Tafur, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 As the legislative session comes to a close over the next few days, Newsom is in the kitchen, stirring a foul chowder that stinks along the state’s entire 1,200-mile coast. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 Now the skunk is saying somebody else stinks, though the smell does lead to Infantino and this FFE plan. — Miami Herald, 30 July 2026 With another championship in reach, the timing of MacFarland’s exit stinks. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 7 June 2026 If someone stinks and has options, send him back to the minors. — John Shipley, Twin Cities, 22 May 2026 His eyes are healthy, although his vision stinks. — Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinks
  1. objections
  2. smells
  3. sucks
  4. complaints
  5. exceptions
Noun
  • Between aesthetic objections and concern for their bottom line, traditional publishing houses refused to have their titles printed in anything other than hardcovers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Their content objections also became entwined with safety concerns amid building demonstrations by activists.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of objections
Verb
  • That’s reflected in the clips shown to the audience, which, unlike the previous films, really gives the sense that this place smells.
    — Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The candle smells of cereal, milk and lemon and is intended to recall the days of watching Saturday morning cartoons and summer.
    — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of smells
Verb
  • Those outside the stack struggle to attract investment and credit as the overwhelming focus on AI sucks money away from their industries.
    — RUCHIR SHARMA, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026
  • But that doesn’t erase the fact that Gromit breaking kayfabe for his memoir sucks.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of sucks
Noun
  • The problems are drawing complaints from residents and pressure from Colorado lawmakers for a solution.
    — Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The film, shot in Livingston, Montana, prompted protests and public safety complaints earlier this month.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of complaints
Noun
  • Once a hospital makes a patient’s records available through Epic’s Care Everywhere, many clinicians who work with Epic across the country can pull up those records, with some exceptions.
    — Alex Rosenblat — CalMatters, STAT, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Most brands top out at about $50 per bottle, with a few exceptions here and there.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of exceptions

Browse Nearby Words

stinkpots
stinks
stinks up
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Cite this Entry

“Stinks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinks. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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