stink

USAGE SUMMARY

"stink" is a correct English word and is most commonly used as a verb meaning either "to emit an unpleasant smell" or "to be extremely bad or unpleasant." Example sentence: The smell of the garbage was so pungent that it was causing the entire neighborhood to stink.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not because barely any of the celebrities actually live in Lucas's constituency, which makes the whole thing stink of eat-your-vegetables condescension.

The Guardian

The day's filming schedule, inevitably, was delayed, and Robards kept us entertained with a stream of anecdotes, most memorably the comforting admission that the first time he'd ever walked on to a Broadway stage to do an audition speech, and before he'd even opened his mouth to speak, the director called out from the stalls: "You already stink".

The Guardian

The Beano publisher DC Thomson has collaborated in an official "mod" for the popular game, replacing default characters and items with Dennis and Gnasher, as well as catapults, rotten tomatoes, stink bombs and Dennis' nemesis Walter.

The Guardian - Tech

"I don't care what jail I've been in, they all stink.

The Guardian - Books

Two campers testified that the men were swearing at them, shouting "niggers" and "black bastards" and that they "stink".

The Guardian

It's also, incidentally, the part that will make your house stink so much that your partner will accuse you of deliberately attempting to sabotage their precious time off.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Its narrow and ancient streets stink of sewage.

The Guardian

"Your majesty, I've stink in my linen," he tells Louis XIV Alan Rickmann).

The Guardian - Film

"I'm sure the script will stink and I certainly don't know why I am doing it all," she said before setting out for the heart of darkness.

The Economist

THE standard French critique of Tony Blair has it that he is George Bush's poodle and an ultra-libéral who runs a Dickensian country where the economy may boom but state schools crumble and hospitals stink.

The Economist

Certainly in his early works the "young eagle" could seem a rather wooden bird, determinedly plotting a formal course rather than flying freely.Although Brahms's composition grew ever more relaxed and supple, some listeners still discern an occasional disjunction in his pieces between real inspiration and the bald application of method with its "stink of the workshop".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "stink" figuratively to describe something as bad or unpleasant, ensure the context is clear to avoid misinterpretation. For example, specify what exactly "stinks" to maintain clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "stink" in formal writing or professional communication. Opt for more appropriate alternatives such as "is deficient", "is substandard", or "is unsatisfactory" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "stink" is as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it describes the act of emitting a strong, unpleasant smell or being of very poor quality. As a noun, it refers to the offensive smell itself. Ludwig AI confirms that it's a correct English word used in both contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stink" functions as both a verb and a noun, primarily to express strong disapproval related to offensive smells or poor quality. While grammatically correct and very common in use, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, its register is generally informal to neutral, making it less suitable for formal contexts. Ludwig's examples highlight its prevalence in news and media. For professional settings, consider alternatives like "be deficient" or "be substandard".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smell terrible

Emphasizes the intensity of the bad smell.

have a bad smell

A more general way of saying something smells bad.

reek of

Implies a strong and unpleasant smell, often associated with something specific.

emit a foul odor

Focuses on the action of producing a bad smell, rather than the smell itself.

be rotten

Describes something that is decaying or of very poor quality.

be malodorous

A more formal and technical term for having a bad odor.

be offensive

Refers to something unpleasant or disagreeable, either literally or figuratively.

be awful

A general term for something being very bad, can be used metaphorically.

be substandard

Focuses on the quality of something being below the required standard.

be deficient

Highlights the lack of something important or necessary.

FAQs

How can "stink" be used in a sentence?

The word "stink" can be used in a sentence to describe a bad smell, as in "The garbage cans stink", or to describe something of poor quality, as in "That movie really stinks".

What are some synonyms for "stink" when referring to a bad smell?

Synonyms for "stink" when referring to a bad smell include "stench", "reek", and "odor".

Is it appropriate to use "stink" in formal writing?

While "stink" is commonly understood, it's generally considered informal. In formal writing, consider using more sophisticated vocabulary to express the same idea.

What does it mean when someone says something "stinks"?

When someone says something "stinks", they typically mean it's either giving off a very bad smell or it's of very poor quality and therefore unpleasant.