as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell
a stinky plant that attracts certain insects and then devours them
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Recent Examples of stinky
The New York Yankees are dealing with a stinky spring training situation after a sewage leak penetrated their clubhouse and outer hallway, and created pools of fetid water around George Steinbrenner Stadium.
—
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 22 Feb. 2026
However, stuffing stinky or stained items away for months is a surefire way to permanently damage them.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Feb. 2026
Here's what to know about the stinky standoff and the growing ecological disaster.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Explore and feast on things like fried chicken, gua bao, bubble tea, and stinky tofu at over a dozen night markets scattered throughout the city.
—Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2026
An alkaline compound, baking soda is a non-toxic cleaner with a coarseness that works wonders for scrubbing grime, removing difficult stains, and deodorizing stinky odors.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
An Orange County landfill has been cited for foul odors after Irvine neighbors complained about the stinky smell.
—Michele Gile, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Here are examples of what to avoid in winter, including the number one item that could turn your black gold into a stinky, unusable mess.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 1 Feb. 2026
Pair it with chocolate desserts or even a stinky cheese like Camembert.
—Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 22 Feb. 2026
However, stuffing stinky or stained items away for months is a surefire way to permanently damage them.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Feb. 2026
Here's what to know about the stinky standoff and the growing ecological disaster.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Explore and feast on things like fried chicken, gua bao, bubble tea, and stinky tofu at over a dozen night markets scattered throughout the city.
—Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2026
An alkaline compound, baking soda is a non-toxic cleaner with a coarseness that works wonders for scrubbing grime, removing difficult stains, and deodorizing stinky odors.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
An Orange County landfill has been cited for foul odors after Irvine neighbors complained about the stinky smell.
—Michele Gile, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Here are examples of what to avoid in winter, including the number one item that could turn your black gold into a stinky, unusable mess.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 1 Feb. 2026
Pair it with chocolate desserts or even a stinky cheese like Camembert.
—Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinky
Adjective
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Four plays, 76 yards, in 25 stinking seconds.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
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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
Adjective
-
Case calls out common offenses like loud speakerphone calls during boarding, playing videos without headphones, or eating super-smelly food.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
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Empty your washing machine promptly at the end of every cycle to prevent bacteria growth and smelly odors from developing in your damp clothes, advises Palmer-Smith.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Although Silicon Valley is fresh off hosting the Super Bowl, the area could be ripe for opportunity as the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and FIFA World Cup are still coming to the area this year.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
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Many practitioners recommend eating them ripe, seasonal, and even between main meals.—
Mélanie Defouilloy,
Vogue,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Vermin, malodorous airs and other issues caused 14 Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach restaurants to fail inspection last week.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
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Democrats are an eye-watering 26 points underwater while Republicans are a more mildly malodorous 11 points beneath the surface.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Critics at its first press screening called the film disgusting, accusing it of exploiting both its oblivious subjects and the beloved former first lady.—
Rosemary Counter,
Vanity Fair,
25 Feb. 2026
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Just last week the president tweeted a vile and disgusting image of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and refuses to apologize.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Vokietaitis even managed to draw a foul call on the opening tip, much to the amazement of Miller and his team.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
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Researchers noted that the spiders emit a foul odor and sit on thin white silk to draw flies.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Kelli Bryant, 34, was facing three counts each of child abuse related to allegedly forcing her three children, a 15-year-old boy and a 13- and 12-year-old girl, to live in unbearable, filthy conditions in an apartment on Lydia Lane.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
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Other parts of the ballpark, including the exterior concourse and entrances, were also impacted by the filthy leaks, which stunk to high heaven.—
Gary Phillips,
Hartford Courant,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The New York Yankees are dealing with a stinky spring training situation after a sewage leak penetrated their clubhouse and outer hallway, and created pools of fetid water around George Steinbrenner Stadium.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The family imploded, and there’s something almost novelistic in the trajectory—from cramped newspaper offices in Adelaide and Fleet Street to Lachlan Murdoch as the custodian of a journalistic enterprise’s fetid remains.—
Andrew O’Hagan,
New Yorker,
2 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stinky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinky. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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