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rank

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noun

1
as in ranking
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement attained the highest rank in the Freemasons

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in row
a series of people or things arranged side by side rank upon rank of cavalry came thundering down the hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

rank

3 of 3

adjective

1
as in rampant
growing thickly and vigorously covered with trumpet vines so rank you couldn't see the trellis beneath them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word rank distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of rank are fetid, fusty, malodorous, musty, noisome, putrid, and stinking. While all these words mean "bad-smelling," rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

How do fusty and musty relate to one another, in the sense of rank?

Both fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.

a fusty attic
the musty odor of a damp cellar

When is malodorous a more appropriate choice than rank?

The synonyms malodorous and rank are sometimes interchangeable, but malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

In what contexts can noisome take the place of rank?

While the synonyms noisome and rank are close in meaning, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

When might putrid be a better fit than rank?

Although the words putrid and rank have much in common, putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

How are the words stinking and fetid related as synonyms of rank?

Both stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells
the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

Examples 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 rank
Verb
Here is Entertainment Weekly’s list of the 25 best Hallmark Christmas movies, ranked. Janey Tracey, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2024 Magaziner, ranking member of the subcommittee, concurred. Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
Flaunting her marquise diamond ring in the cover photo, Gomez joins the ranks of ex-Disney and Nickelodeon acts like Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato who have revealed their sparkly new hardware on social media. Brendan Le, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024 Patel, who has called for shuttering the FBI’s headquarters in Washington and firing its top ranks, is picking up a lot of early Senate Republican support and appears to be cruising toward confirmation. Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Engelstad’s 72 victories rank as the fifth-most in school history. Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 20 Apr. 2024 The allure of freelancing, side hustling, and digital nomadism has created a thriving gig economy as younger generations increasingly rank fulfillment above traditional 9-to-5s. Ebony Flake, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rank 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank
Verb
  • Our vision is simply to be the most excellent Professional Publisher there is.
    Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
  • There was just one difference in the nominations for best original song between the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globes.
    Paul Grein, Billboard, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Several studies have even been conducted around their old blocks and their wines are classified as some of the most peppery in the world.
    Elycia Rubin, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024
  • According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, the names of defendants and almost all case records are classified.
    Leon Aron, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The rankings exclude military academies and are limited to schools that participate in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, or FBS, which tend to attract top players.
    Michael Ozanian, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2024
  • The capital was followed by the state's second-largest city, Tucson, which cracked the top half of the ranking at No. 74.
    Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The outcome is a society in which the poor lack dignity and solidarity because they are caught in a system that pushes them to loathe their own situation rather than seek community assistance.
    Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
  • How to think about human dignity Our greatest philosophers and spiritual thinkers have considered this same dilemma over the course of centuries.
    Aja Romano, Vox, 7 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • There are no rows of resorts, high-end stores or major chains here, just one grocery store and a general store.
    Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2024
  • And then there’s Brentford, who are the surprising name on the list of those yet to win two games in a row.
    Nick Miller, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Surveying 455 adults, with a margin of error of +/- 4.6 percentage points, the poll only divided the age category into under and over 45 years old.
    Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 17 Dec. 2024
  • The original song category features 15 tracks culled from 89 submissions.
    Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The gap in information has left a void, being filled with rampant speculation, including outlandish conspiracy theories.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Worse, outsourcing has become rampant, with high-paying IT jobs migrating to countries like India and Eastern Europe.
    Joel Shulman, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • 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
  • Muttaiah said the man inside the stinking manhole was working without any safety equipment — no gloves, no shoes, no supplemental oxygen.
    Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2019

Thesaurus Entries Near rank

Cite this Entry

“Rank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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