STINKING Synonyms: 285 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'stinking' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of stinking are fetid , fusty , malodorous , musty , noisome , putrid , and rank . While all these words mean "bad-smelling," stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting. // prisoners were held in stinking cells // the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

Q: How are the words 'fusty' and 'musty' related as synonyms of 'stinking'?

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

Q: Where would 'malodorous' be a reasonable alternative to 'stinking'?

The words malodorous and stinking are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive. // malodorous fertilizers

Q: When might 'noisome' be a better fit than 'stinking'?

Although the words noisome and stinking have much in common, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive. // a stagnant, noisome sewer

Q: When is it sensible to use 'putrid' instead of 'stinking'?

The synonyms putrid and stinking are sometimes interchangeable, but putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter. // the putrid smell of rotting fish

Q: When is 'rank' a more appropriate choice than 'stinking'?

In some situations, the words rank and stinking are roughly equivalent. However, rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell. // rank cigar smoke

stinking 1 of 3

adjective

ˈstiŋ-kiŋ

Definition of stinking

as in smelly

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

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

stinking

2 of 3

adverb

as in damn

to a great degree a huge, showy house that screams, "We're stinking rich!"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stinking

3 of 3

verb

present participle of stink

as in reeking

to give off an extremely unpleasant smell the dog stinks because she tangled with a skunk again

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in sucking

to be objectionable or unsatisfactory their team really stinks this year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word stinking distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of stinking are fetid, fusty, malodorous, musty, noisome, putrid, and rank. While all these words mean "bad-smelling," stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells

the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

How are the words fusty and musty related as synonyms of stinking?

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

Where would malodorous be a reasonable alternative to stinking?

The words malodorous and stinking are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

When might noisome be a better fit than stinking?

Although the words noisome and stinking have much in common, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

When is it sensible to use putrid instead of stinking?

The synonyms putrid and stinking are sometimes interchangeable, but putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

When is rank a more appropriate choice than stinking?

In some situations, the words rank and stinking are roughly equivalent. However, rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

Example 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 stinking

Adjective

America’s political landscape has become a stinking mess. — Mary Ellen Klas, Boston Herald, 1 June 2026 Not the good, high-altitude ozone that shields us from dangerous UV light, but bad ozone, hovering right above ground level — stinking, brownish, grayish photochemical smog. — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026 Their solution to a stinking run was, comically, to rely on less than 23 per cent of possession and pick Madrid off with a classy volley from Martin Satriano, below. — Phil Hay, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026 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 Eventually, more fat, oil, and grease congeal onto the mess and build up into giant stinking globs. — National Geographic, 16 Aug. 2017

Verb

Imagine answering the call of nature in a dark, stinking chamber alongside dozens of strangers, all while making pleasant conversation. — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026 No dirty carny putting his hands on you and stinking of whiskey. — New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2026 The stinking body was soon discovered in the hold, and Colt was arrested not long after that. — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026 The water drew back from the house, left a thick, stinking silt across the floor. — Literary Hub, 16 July 2026 And not some stinking Bradford pears. — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2026 Nix can sling it with Sam Darnold all stinking day. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026 Free yourself from those stinking shackles! — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026 The carpets were absolutely stinking of wet cheesy dog. — Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinking

Adjective

Having suffered a near-death experience during the pandemic, this hotel search site would seem ripe for disruption in an age of AI.

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
There are 47 profiles that may be ripe for identification using genetic genealogy, Odien told ABC News.

— Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of ripe

Adjective

Eurotrash from Frauke Finsterwalder will have its world premiere in Zurich, the festival confirmed Monday, following a writer called Philipp who embarks with his terminally ill and hopelessly drunk mother, Helene, on a road trip through Switzerland.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026
This was the context for Justice Brewer’s remarks about Philip sober restraining Philip drunk.

— Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of drunk

Verb

The meteorite hurtled over the east coast before crash-landing in a house in Hillsborough, New Jersey where the homeowner found it, reeking of sulfur.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 15 July 2026
Today, a checkerboard of subdivisions crosses east to west, and the remaining grasslands are buried each day under reeking asphalt and rolls of turfgrass.

— Maggie Slepian, Longreads, 14 May 2026

Definition of reeking

Verb

All alone with a few thousand dollars to my name, courtesy of my soul-sucking corporate job.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026
For instance, Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have become openly obsequious in sucking up to the DSA.

— Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of sucking

Adjective

These repellents are made of stinky smells and bad flavors that deer do not like, like potassium sorbate, whole egg solids, thyme oil, garlic, and sodium lauryl sulfate.

— Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 13 Aug. 2026
Garbage cans can be smelly and gross, but flies love them thanks to their rotting food and stinky smells.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of stinky

Adjective

But when a traumatic drunken night resurfaces, Júlía must confront shame, family responsibilities and the courage to tell her own story, reads the logline.

— Annika Pham, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
As powerful as Diamanda’s performance was, however, that specific reference later came to mean more to me on a drunken road trip through Kosovo with a Serb nationalist.

— Matt Thompson, SPIN, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of drunken

Adverb

The Rolling Stones, down to two original members, have released their 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues, and most of it is pretty damned good.

— David Harris, SPIN, 6 July 2026
But Cleveland State was, in fact, a damned good basketball team, as were most of the double-digit seed winners in NCAA Tournament history.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Mar. 2026

Definition of damned

Browse Nearby Words

stinkers

stinking

stinking up

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“Stinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinking. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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