1
: to emit a strong offensive odor
stank of urine
2
: to be offensive
the election stank of corruption
also
: to be in bad repute
3
: to possess something to an offensive degree
stinking with wealth
4
: to be extremely bad or unpleasant
the performance stank
that news really stinks
Examples of stink in a Sentence
Verb
The food is good at that restaurant, but the service stinks.
Having a root canal stinks.
Noun
People raised a stink about the new law.
He kicked up a stink about the way he'd been treated.
Recent Examples on the Web
Julian Torres, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
Yes, the Rockies stink like a baby’s diaper.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2026
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
Koutroulis said the county has instituted various mitigation measures to suppress the stink, including misting systems, industrial fans and soil to cover waste.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stink
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Even for those who celebrate, the pressure to deliver the picture-perfect night can — quite frankly — stink.
—Julian Torres, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
Yes, the Rockies stink like a baby’s diaper.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2026
Noun
Stinky Dishwasher When food gets trapped in the filter, gaskets, or baskets in your dishwasher, bacteria grow and create a stink.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
Koutroulis said the county has instituted various mitigation measures to suppress the stink, including misting systems, industrial fans and soil to cover waste.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stink
Cite this Entry
“Stink.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stink. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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