as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell
a stinky plant that attracts certain insects and then devours them
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Recent Examples of stinky
Compost Deodorizer Baking soda can deodorize our fridge, so why not use it on a stinky compost pile?
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026
Keno brought his goofy side to every practice, getting laughs at stinky feet jokes, or pretending to run into a door.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
This extra-large dual bin number from Amazon is effectively a two-in-one, with removable and machine washable laundry bags when things inevitably get stinky.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 20 Apr. 2026
Sargassum, the stinky, slimy bane of beachgoers worldwide, is forecast to swarm over Florida's beaches this summer, experts say.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
But over time, knife marks, stinky food odors, and a dry surface can render your wooden cutting board unusable.
—Staff Author, Martha Stewart, 31 Mar. 2026
Golden Leaf, a restaurant in San Gabriel in Los Angeles County, has taken stinky tofu off its menu, according to the Los Angeles Times.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Jenn Harris has a column about a battle over stinky tofu at Golden Leaf restaurant in San Gabriel.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
Millions of dead red crabs, normally found further south, washed up on local shores, making a stinky mess.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026
Keno brought his goofy side to every practice, getting laughs at stinky feet jokes, or pretending to run into a door.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
This extra-large dual bin number from Amazon is effectively a two-in-one, with removable and machine washable laundry bags when things inevitably get stinky.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 20 Apr. 2026
Sargassum, the stinky, slimy bane of beachgoers worldwide, is forecast to swarm over Florida's beaches this summer, experts say.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
But over time, knife marks, stinky food odors, and a dry surface can render your wooden cutting board unusable.
—Staff Author, Martha Stewart, 31 Mar. 2026
Golden Leaf, a restaurant in San Gabriel in Los Angeles County, has taken stinky tofu off its menu, according to the Los Angeles Times.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Jenn Harris has a column about a battle over stinky tofu at Golden Leaf restaurant in San Gabriel.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
Millions of dead red crabs, normally found further south, washed up on local shores, making a stinky mess.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinky
Adjective
-
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
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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
Adjective
-
This part of the bathroom is often overlooked when cleaning the bathroom, but mold, mildew, and mineral deposits can build up in the tank and cause smelly odors.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Her yard was covered in thick, smelly bird poop.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Putting in the elbow grease can be more powerful than a flashy college degree or pedigree—and the former Goldman Sachs CEO said great careers are actually ripe for the picking if professionals seize the moment and work hard.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Before then, Venus and Uranus are lighting up your local world and social life, making the first two weeks ripe for spontaneous adventure closer to home.—
Steph Koyfman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Food that needed to be trashed for age or temperature abuse, malodorous air and filthy food containers were among the 33 violations an inspector found at a popular Miami seafood restaurant.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Gladwin iris or roast-beef plant (Iris foetidissima) has malodorous foliage when crushed.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The water is disgusting-looking.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
-
These words then take on guilt by association because of the things we have been socialized to find unpleasant, uncomfortable, or disgusting.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
After neighbors in October 2023 reported foul odors from the Penrose funeral home, officials arrested the couple in November 2023, in Oklahoma.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
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An investigation into the funeral home began in October 2023 when neighbors reported a foul odor to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office.—
Brian Sherrod,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Reach-in coolers that didn’t keep food safe from bacteria growth and utensils stored in filthy spots shut down a Miami restaurant after inspection last week.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Stanley dealers were not in cutthroat competition for filthy lucre.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The bleak tortures Ohm concocts for his characters are as vile as the Bilberry’s fetid jacuzzi.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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The evolutionary advantage of fetid roses was that their odor deterred animal herds that grazed in their habitat.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stinky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinky. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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