stink

1 of 2

verb

stank ˈstaŋk How to pronounce stink (audio) or stunk ˈstəŋk How to pronounce stink (audio) ; stunk; stinking

intransitive verb

1
: to emit a strong offensive odor
stank of urine
2
: to be offensive
the election stank of corruption
also : to be in bad repute
3
: to possess something to an offensive degree
stinking with wealth
4
: to be extremely bad or unpleasant
the performance stank
that news really stinks
stinky adjective

stink

2 of 2

noun

1
: a strong offensive odor : stench
2
: a public outcry against something : fuss
made a big stink when asked to leave

Examples of stink in a Sentence

Verb The food is good at that restaurant, but the service stinks. Having a root canal stinks. Noun People raised a stink about the new law. He kicked up a stink about the way he'd been treated.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
But make no mistake, the host is not by any means saying the contestants do not stink. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025 Related Articles Jace Frederick: Think the NBA stinks now? Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 10 Mar. 2025
Noun
The campaign sees the baseball great tackling stink by partnering up with umpires by using Lysol Laundry Sanitizer. Dj Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025 While your synthetic undies might pick up stink after a day or two on the trail, Merino wool pairs tend to feel and smell fresh for longer. Zoe Gates, Outside Online, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stink

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English stincan; akin to Old High German stinkan to emit a smell

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stink was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stink.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stink. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

stink

1 of 2 verb
stank ˈstaŋk How to pronounce stink (audio) or stunk ˈstəŋk How to pronounce stink (audio) ; stunk; stinking
1
: to give off or cause to have an unpleasant smell
the garbage pail stinks
2
: to be very bad or unpleasant
that news really stinks
stinker noun

stink

2 of 2 noun
1
: a strong unpleasant odor : stench
2
: a public outcry against something : fuss
made a big stink when asked to leave
stinky
ˈstiŋ-kē
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on stink

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