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

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 The defense already looks tired of the offense stinking. — Zac Jackson, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025 But who cares about stinking elections? — Jackie Calmes, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinking

Adjective

Talwani said the case was now ripe for a decision because the USPS had proposed a rule, and the election was closer.

— Nate Raymond, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
With such a glut of quirky comedy coming out of New Zealand, let’s hope this continues for as long as true crime remains ripe for parody.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of ripe

Adjective

Ormund, who has spent the entirety of the battle looking for Ulf, finally finds the dragonseed passed out in the latrine after a morning spent in Lord Footly’s kitchen getting drunk on the Footly stores of ale.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
After being publicly humiliated by Daemon Targaryen and lured to switch sides (with his dragon) to the Greens by Ormund Hightower, party animal Ulf is still drunk and MIA when the battle starts.

— Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 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

Pests and Disease Aphids and other sap-sucking insects can drain crepe myrtle sap and spread sooty mold, while leaf spot is a fungal issue that can weaken plants, impair blooming, and leave unsightly splotches on plant leaves.

— Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
That day might start on the couch and end on a neighbor's patio sucking down drinks while watching the SEC try to stay relevant in the national championship chase.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of sucking

Adjective

Knowing divorce is hard on kids is like knowing that water is wet, cigars are stinky, and that Selena Gomez is incapable of acting.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 July 2026
Cushioned insoles create the feeling of bouncing forward with every step, not to mention the mesh outers will eliminate the threat of sweaty, stinky feet.

— Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2026

Definition of stinky

Adjective

With bio-sensors, of course, as explained by a drunken tech bro (Nicholas Braun) in an exclusive lounge.

— Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
After schlepping his way up to P-town, spying on Nancy smooching a guy from work, and being thrown out of a local eatery known as the Flagship for drunken assholery, Bourdain begins his journey in earnest.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 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

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stinkers

stinking

stinking up

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“Stinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinking. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of stinking

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