RANK Synonyms: 373 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of rank are fetid , fusty , malodorous , musty , noisome , putrid , and stinking . While all these words mean "bad-smelling," rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell. // rank cigar smoke

Q: How do 'fusty' and 'musty' relate to one another, in the sense of 'rank'?

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: When is 'malodorous' a more appropriate choice than 'rank'?

The synonyms malodorous and rank are sometimes interchangeable, but malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive. // malodorous fertilizers

Q: In what contexts can 'noisome' take the place of 'rank'?

While the synonyms noisome and rank are close in meaning, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive. // a stagnant, noisome sewer

Q: When might 'putrid' be a better fit than 'rank'?

Although the words putrid and rank have much in common, putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter. // the putrid smell of rotting fish

Q: How are the words 'stinking' and 'fetid' related as synonyms of 'rank'?

Both stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting. // prisoners were held in stinking cells // the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

rank 1 of 3

verb

Definition of rank

as in to be

to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes my favorite pitcher ranks first in the league for number of consecutive outs

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Relevance

as in to classify

to arrange or assign according to type most critics would rank him among our best actors

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rank

2 of 3

noun

ˈraŋk

as in ranking

the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement attained the highest rank in the Freemasons

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as in dignity

high position within society remembered as a woman of rank who socialized only with other members of the elite

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in row

a series of people or things arranged side by side rank upon rank of cavalry came thundering down the hill

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as in category

usually ranks plural one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic this book will someday join the ranks of the world's great novels

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rank

3 of 3

adjective

as in rampant

growing thickly and vigorously covered with trumpet vines so rank you couldn't see the trellis beneath them

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in ripe

having an unpleasant smell smokes rank cigars that usually send me running for fresh air

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in obvious

very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad the article about fairy tales was full of rank errors, such as a reference to "Cinderella biting into the poisoned apple"

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in absolute

having no exceptions or restrictions a sidewalk sale of art works by rank amateurs

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rank distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of rank are fetid, fusty, malodorous, musty, noisome, putrid, and stinking. While all these words mean "bad-smelling," rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

How do fusty and musty relate to one another, in the sense of rank?

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

When is malodorous a more appropriate choice than rank?

The synonyms malodorous and rank are sometimes interchangeable, but malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

In what contexts can noisome take the place of rank?

While the synonyms noisome and rank are close in meaning, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

When might putrid be a better fit than rank?

Although the words putrid and rank have much in common, putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

How are the words stinking and fetid related as synonyms of rank?

Both stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells

the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

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 rank

Verb

Critical unsettledness, however, ranks high among the characteristics needed by any viable candidate for the Great American Novel. — Literary Hub, 6 July 2026 That project, called Aviano, now ranks among nine developments across Antioch, Oakley, Martinez, Pinole and Pleasant Hill that federal prosecutors appear to be targeting in their latest investigation into the assessor’s office, the subpoenas show. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 7 July 2026

Noun

Attention now turns to the Nasdaq, which adds SpaceX to its ranks after Elon Musk’s group was fast-tracked into the index. — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 7 July 2026 Muraki, through a settlement, agreed to a demotion in rank to firefighter and 120-hour suspension. — Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026

Adjective

The twin sons of former NBA player Theo Ratliff moved up 34 spots and 20 spots, respectively, in the site’s latest re-rank. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026 The rank bigotry of a neo-Nazi newsletter filters through folks like Sean’s parents and sister (a very funny Kate Berlant) — which is to say conservatives, but mostly amiable ones. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rank

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank

Verb

There are nods to the environmental devastation wrought by the cattle industry that dominated Southern California in the first half of the 19th century, as well as the Faustian bargain struck by Indigenous people who converted to Catholicism.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
That match was held before the game in Kansas City, and each time Cape Verde scored, there were cheers from the Colombia supporters at Arrowhead Stadium.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026

Definition of be

Verb

The Education Department initially classified only 11 fields as professional, leaving out areas including nursing, physical therapy and education.

— Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Devine told me that e-bike and moped marketing is confusing and regulations keeping e-bikes safely classified are cloudy.

— Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of classify

Noun

The Westchester suburb of Rye dropped to third in the annual ranking, with an income of $428,806.

— Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Monday, Forbes published its second-ever ranking of America’s Decabillionaire families, featuring 54 multi-generational clans worth at least $10 billion apiece.

— Matt Durot, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of ranking

Noun

Choung Wan, an emeritus professor at Seoul’s Kyung Hee University Law School, said laws are urgently needed to protect the dignity and other rights of the deceased.

— Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
But liberals should have confidence in meeting those fears with arguments about natural-law principles of equality and dignity underpinning our legal tradition.

— Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 2 July 2026

Definition of dignity

Noun

Trump valued more than two dozen assets at over $50 million, which is the highest disclosure category on the form.

— Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 1 July 2026
The report also highlighted improvements in clearance rates and an overall decrease in major crime categories, including robberies.

— CBS Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Definition of category

Adjective

Then the favourites/best team in the tournament, the rampant French, are in action in their last-16 game against Paraguay.

— Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 July 2026
When sports betting was made legal in 2018, rampant advertising and sponsorship coupled with an unregulated market resulted in a turmoil that prompted the government to usher in new regulations in 2023.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026

Definition of rampant

Adjective

Not only is Earth's closest celestial neighbor a pristine time capsule ripe for study – preserved almost unaltered throughout the course of billions of years – but the moon is viewed as a stepping stone for human exploration deeper into the cosmos.

— Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Alongside ripe avocados, fresh tomatoes, and spices, this dip is topped with queso blanco and pomegranate seeds.

— Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 1 July 2026

Definition of ripe

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“Rank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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verb

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adjective

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More from Merriam-Webster on rank

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Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

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Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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