1
as in ripe
having an unpleasant smell
came home from their trip to find stinking garbage that had been left in the kitchen
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drunk
slang
being under the influence of alcohol
warned her husband not to come home stinking—or he'd be sleeping on the couch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in damn
to a great degree
a huge, showy house that screams, "We're stinking rich!"
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stinking
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
GothamGetty Images Aren't expectant parents Jenna Dewan and Steve Kazee just so stinking cute?
—Emily Dixon, Marie Claire, 3 Dec. 2019
Second, the Huskies covered the spread as the favorite one stinking time?
—Mike Anthony, courant.com, 29 Aug. 2019
The area included a stinking heap: years of goat dung in layers up to a foot thick.
—Michael Greshko, National Geographic, 28 Aug. 2019
Man, that’s one crazy set of numbers, not to mention a stinking pile of horse manure, as the two long-revered defenders continue to make one sensational play after another . .
—Bruce Jenkins, SFChronicle.com, 19 July 2019
But his mechanics were already pretty stinking good.
—Robert Klemko, SI.com, 15 July 2019
Eventually, more fat, oil, and grease congeal onto the mess and build up into giant stinking globs.
—National Geographic, 16 Aug. 2017
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
GothamGetty Images Aren't expectant parents Jenna Dewan and Steve Kazee just so stinking cute?
—Emily Dixon, Marie Claire, 3 Dec. 2019
Second, the Huskies covered the spread as the favorite one stinking time?
—Mike Anthony, courant.com, 29 Aug. 2019
The area included a stinking heap: years of goat dung in layers up to a foot thick.
—Michael Greshko, National Geographic, 28 Aug. 2019
Man, that’s one crazy set of numbers, not to mention a stinking pile of horse manure, as the two long-revered defenders continue to make one sensational play after another . .
—Bruce Jenkins, SFChronicle.com, 19 July 2019
But his mechanics were already pretty stinking good.
—Robert Klemko, SI.com, 15 July 2019
Eventually, more fat, oil, and grease congeal onto the mess and build up into giant stinking globs.
—National Geographic, 16 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinking
Adjective
-
Especially once Hasbro took over the game from Parker Brothers, Clue became a brand ripe for licensable extension.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2025
-
The fruit flavors are ripe and juicy, featuring strawberry, raspberry, and sometimes blackberry.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In October 2023, Cook was charged with cruelty to children after allegedly picking up Jolly’s 4-year-old twins while drunk.—
Laura Barcella,
People.com,
19 Feb. 2025
-
Christian Velasquez-Galeano, 28, was driving drunk around 4:45 a.m. Sunday in Garden City, Nassau County, police said in a press release.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Directed by Robert Eggers, the gothic horror film sees newlyweds Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) and Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) haunted by the treacherous, blood-sucking Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgard).—
EW.com,
EW.com,
30 Dec. 2024
-
This time around, even critics were convinced, joining in with libidinous fans to praise the blood-sucking second season, which was recently nominated for two Critics Choice Awards after being largely snubbed by voting bodies last year.—
Elaina Patton,
NBC News,
27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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There were deadly shootings, brawling, street parties late into the night, blaring music and drunken behavior.—
The Miami Herald,
arkansasonline.com,
18 Feb. 2025
-
This time, Kelsey and Matt were renewing their vows, with Molly Shannon as a drunken mother of the bride and Martin Short as Kelsey's dad.—
Lindsay Kimble,
People.com,
17 Feb. 2025
Adverb
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The combo of that large, efficient head; the dampening factor of the wood handle; and a nice texture at the base of the grip just felt so damned good, strike after strike.—
Joe Jackson,
Outside Online,
20 Nov. 2024
-
Still, Moore is pretty damned great — this could almost be her Fly.—
Tom Gliatto,
Peoplemag,
20 Sep. 2024
Verb
-
Deep in the forest, the air whips by cold and fast and smelling of redwoods.—
Nick Czap,
Robb Report,
26 Dec. 2024
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Especially when that includes boarding a Christmastime caboose brimming with holiday decor, smelling hot cocoa wafting through the cars, and enjoying plenty of picturesque views.—
Perri Ormont Blumberg Fox News,
Fox News,
26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
And this particular mouthful may have been really foul.—
James Doubek,
NPR,
29 Jan. 2025
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Two-way player Drew Peterson later entered the mix after Porzingis picked up his fifth foul midway through the third quarter.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Now that cloud has loudly broken and Ukraine is getting wet.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN,
19 Feb. 2025
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Navigating heavy rain: Essential safety measures for wet roads Heavy rainfall may lead to flooding if prolonged or if there is excessive runoff.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
The Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinking. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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