as in dog
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
he's nothing but a dirty, rotten skunk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to bomb
to defeat by a large margin
we ended up skunking them, as our goalie was able to prevent the other team from scoring a single goal
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to defeat
to achieve a victory over
our football team consistently skunks our traditional rivals Thanksgiving after Thanksgiving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to sting
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
unwilling to let suppliers skunk him, the restaurant owner inspected every shipment before signing off on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skunk
Sabrina Moreno, Axios, 30 Jan. 2025
Spera said the animals included rabbits, chickens, a duck, a skunk, a dove and two cats.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2025
Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 15 May 2024
In a remarkable, odds-defying losing streak, the 67-year-old composer has been skunked on every nomination, including the past seven years in a row.
—Tyler Coates, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for skunk
Noun
The Southwest Virginia Wildlife rescued an extremely rare, and very cute, skunk earlier this month.
—Sabrina Moreno, Axios, 30 Jan. 2025
Spera said the animals included rabbits, chickens, a duck, a skunk, a dove and two cats.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2025
Verb
The premise was that the Minnesota Timberwolves were trying to reconnect in this series after getting skunked twice at home.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 15 May 2024
In a remarkable, odds-defying losing streak, the 67-year-old composer has been skunked on every nomination, including the past seven years in a row.
—Tyler Coates, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for skunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skunk
Noun
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The couple was seen taking a stroll on a N.Y.C. street with Bosworth's dog, Happy, on Tuesday.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
Peoplemag,
13 Sep. 2023
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Police brought in hundreds of law enforcement personnel with dogs, armored carriers, horses and helicopters that circled overhead.—
Maryclaire Dale, Marc Levy and Michael Rubinkam,
Anchorage Daily News,
13 Sep. 2023
Verb
-
Israel bombed Gaza in what was one of the deadliest single days since the war began.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
21 Mar. 2025
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On December 7, 1941, the Japanese Navy bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.—
Mary LaPorte,
Hartford Courant,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Abraham gathered enough support to defeat the amendments, which would have imposed significant new labor requirements on employers.—
Stuart Anderson,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
-
The Houston Rockets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 144-137, in a thrilling overtime contest Monday that was arguably one of the more confusing, exciting games of the season.—
Kelly Iko,
The Athletic,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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His touch and shot stung Simon Mignolet’s palms and got Prince William, a friend of Mings, briefly off his seat from the stands above.—
Jacob Tanswell,
The Athletic,
13 Mar. 2025
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Bees, for example, will only sting when they are stressed.—
Sally Percy,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Guests will savor various foods and wine pairings such as crab cakes and Kosta Browne chardonnay, smoked duck breast and Duckhorn red wine, trout and Kosta Browne 2022 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and braised short ribs and Kosta Browne Burgundy Series 2021 Beaune Premier Cru Pinot Noir.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2025
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Don’t: Create smoke or bad air inside by smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes; using gas, propane or wood-burning stoves or cookers; spraying aerosol products; frying or broiling food; burning candles or incense; and vacuuming, unless the vacuum has a HEPA filter.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Fellow White Lotus star Leslie Bibb also mastered a celestial cheek highlight, and wig artist Maahleek crafted a stunning Shego-esque hairdo.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
22 Mar. 2025
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In an increasingly remote and hybrid world, collaboration and new communication styles are increasingly important in order to work with co-workers and clients—those are things that generative AI and agentic tools are not able to master (yet).—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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These are distinctions with meaningful differences: Smartphones are full-on computers in the pocket, tempting kids with nonstop streams of posts and videos and music and so much more, including instant access to AI bots that make cheating that much easier.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2025
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Broner reportedly is said to have cheated a current NBA All-Star out of $1.5 million and a former player out of $5 million in the games.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In Eli Craig’s (Tucker & Dale vs Evil) newest outing, the real fun starts when Frendo the clown comes out to play.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 Mar. 2025
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So the clown came out of him to be accepted, to be loved.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
Fox News,
1 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skunk. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.
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