stink
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to emit a strong offensive smell.
- Synonyms:
- reek
-
to be offensive to honesty or propriety; to be in extremely bad repute or disfavor.
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Informal. to be disgustingly inferior.
That book stinks.
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Slang. to have a large quantity of something (usually followed by of orwith ).
They stink of money. She stinks with jewelry.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
a strong offensive smell; stench.
-
Informal. an unpleasant fuss; scandal.
There was a big stink about his accepting a bribe.
-
(used with a singular verb) stinks, chemistry as a course of study.
verb phrase
noun
-
a strong foul smell; stench
-
slang a great deal of trouble (esp in the phrase to make or raise a stink )
-
intensely; furiously
verb
-
to emit a foul smell
-
slang to be thoroughly bad or abhorrent
this town stinks
-
informal to have a very bad reputation
his name stinks
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to be of poor quality
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slang to have or appear to have an excessive amount (of money)
-
informal to cause to stink
Other Word Forms
- outstink verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of stink
First recorded before 900; (verb) Middle English stinken, Old English stincan; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the verb; cognate with German stinken (verb); stench
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A pot of some stinking brew was boiling over a fire.
From Literature
The answer was a very direct "no", but Ross took the chance to opine that "this stinks".
From BBC
“Unless you want me stinking up your whole basement, I’d better take a shower before we start calling people.”
From Literature
Nim squatted at the edge, out of the way of the wind and stink.
From Literature
Why I’m stuck in a car that stinks of fast-food grease instead of getting ready for the movies.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
