stinks 1 of 2

Definition of stinksnext
plural of stink

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in sucks
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 stinks
Verb
The big problem What few people talk about is that California stinks at attracting new residents from other states. Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026 The Bills’ rush defense stinks. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026 But a team that truly stinks is fascinating in a far different, but no less potent, way. David Aldridge, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026 Also, because New Orleans stinks. Miami Herald, 26 Nov. 2025 He was sacked six times by the Titans last week and won anyway because Tennessee stinks. Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 2025 No one says anyone has to accept that the team stinks. Nick Suss, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Oct. 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinks
Noun
  • Heading into the week, Senate GOP leaders were forging ahead with the funding plan, beginning procedural steps Monday to put the full package of bills on the floor later this week despite objections from Democrats.
    Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • In 2015, Suzuki found that Abe’s allies had signed off on the Church’s name change (to the Family Federation) over the objections of other government officials and civic groups.
    E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Fine'ry Not Another Cherry Eau de Parfum Not Another Cherry smells like another high-end cherry fragrance that retails for more than 10x the price.
    Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026
  • Take a short local hike, moving slowly and focusing on the sights, sounds and smells.
    Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Each tiny seed sucks up water to form a layer of mucilage, creating a gel-like texture.
    Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 14 Jan. 2026
  • In the end, none of it makes any difference because everybody’s ballot sucks anyway.
    The Athletic MLB Staff, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Cumming said the city's information technology department also abruptly cut off part of her office administrator's access, including the ability to see who else in city government may be looking at whistleblower complaints and documents related to ethics investigations.
    Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
  • For hours, in the suffocating heat, Dooley sifted through endless accounts of mundane colonial matters—church records, itemizations, legal disputes, petty complaints.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Smith maintained many of the gifts cited by Cannon fell under exceptions to the disclosure rules, including those governing charity event tickets and gifts for birthdays or holidays.
    Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Under that order, the government required citizens to turn in their gold in exchange for paper currency, although there were exceptions for jewelry, certain rare coins and small amounts for industrial use.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Stinks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinks. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

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