reeking

USAGE SUMMARY

"reeking" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It means to be strongly and disagreeably scented, usually referring to an unpleasant odor. Here is an example: The garbage dump was reeking of rotten eggs and cabbage.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

The New Yorker

The Economist

Independent

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Later, we collected our daughter from school a little unsteady and reeking of gin.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

At the back of his reeking street stall, a cage full of half-alive birds watch.

The Economist

Indeed, he coughed just reaching for his lighter from his reeking smoker's bower on the settee.Giving up seemed impossible.

The Economist

Before long he had lost his virginity in a Havana brothel and had plunged deep into the reeking taverns and alleyways of port life a life that was to go on resurfacing, in bold, tortured figurative painting, for the rest of his career.He was restless always.

The Economist

The site, which takes up about one square mile, once housed chemical factories, gasworks and other mucky industries; centuries-worth of reeking goo are now being removed from the soil by gigantic washing machines.

The Economist

He staggers downstairs in cut-off jeans, reeking of booze.

The Economist

Outside the market, his men the first contingent of a NATO-led peacekeeping force to venture outside Kabul were supervising the removal of mounds of dung from Kunduz's reeking streets.No doubt, the locals were glad of this service.

The Economist

THE fish-hooses of old Aberdeen were dark, reeking places, and the work was scabby.

The Economist

Goats and buffaloes graze amid the reeking mounds, and thousands of scavengers comb the site, looking for items of value.

The Economist

As new allegations of lawbreaking surface, journalism itself is reeking.

The Economist

As Mr Kornacki rightly suggests, one may well agree with the general stance of OWS that Wall Street is rife with corruption, that inequality and the influence of the wealthy need to be reined in while disapproving of tent cities reeking of trash and the supercilious entitlement of liberal arts majors aggrieved by the realisation that student loans aren't gifts.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "reeking" with specific nouns to create a stronger image, such as "reeking of decay" or "reeking of gasoline".

Common error

While "reeking" can be effective in descriptive writing, avoid using it excessively in formal or professional contexts where a more neutral term like "smelling strongly of" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "reeking" is as an adjective or participle, often modifying a noun to describe its strong and unpleasant odor. Ludwig confirms that it is a valid and commonly used word in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

The New Yorker

20%

The Economist

10%

Less common in

Independent

10%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reeking" is a grammatically sound adjective used to describe a strong, usually unpleasant smell. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is common in news and media, often adding a vivid, sensory dimension to descriptions. While effective in creating a strong image, it's important to consider the context and avoid overuse in formal settings. Remember to use "reeking" to enhance your writing with specific nouns, and avoid common errors by opting for more neutral terms in professional contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stinking

This alternative directly replaces "reeking" with a synonym that also implies a strong, unpleasant smell.

giving off a strong stench of

This option emphasizes the unpleasant nature of the odor being emitted.

smelling strongly of

This phrase provides a more descriptive alternative, specifying the source of the strong smell.

rank with

This alternative implies a strong, offensive smell, often associated with decay or uncleanliness.

exuding the odor of

This is a more formal alternative, suggesting a pervasive and often unpleasant smell.

pungent with

This alternative focuses on the sharp and intense nature of the smell.

redolent of

This alternative suggests a strong fragrance, which can be either pleasant or unpleasant depending on the context.

suffused with the scent of

This phrase indicates that the air or something else is filled with a particular smell.

impregnated with the smell of

This alternative suggests that something has absorbed and retained a strong smell.

heavy with the aroma of

This option suggests a dense and noticeable smell, although "aroma" can sometimes imply a more pleasant scent.

FAQs

How can I use "reeking" in a sentence?

You can use "reeking" to describe something that has a strong and unpleasant smell, such as: "The alley was "reeking of garbage"" or "He came in "reeking of smoke"".

What is a synonym for "reeking"?

A synonym for "reeking" is "stinking". Other similar words include "smelling strongly of" or "pungent with".

Is it correct to say something is "reeking with" a particular scent?

Yes, it is correct. The phrase "reeking with" indicates that something is strongly filled with a particular scent, usually an unpleasant one. For example, "The room was "reeking with damp"".

What is the difference between "reeking" and "smelling"?

"Reeking" implies a very strong and usually unpleasant smell, while "smelling" is a more neutral term. Something that is "reeking" has a powerful and often offensive odor. You would use "reeking" for a stronger, more negative connotation.