Definition

1. Verb (past tense of ):
   • To have emitted a strong, unpleasant smell: "stank" is the simple past tense of the verb "stink," meaning that something gave off a foul odor at a specific time in the past.
   • To have been extremely unpleasant or contemptible (figurative): "stank" can describe a situation, behavior, or quality that was morally repulsive or of very poor quality.

Usage Examples

• Literal smell:

  • The garbage stank after being left in the sun for days. (The garbage gave off a strong, rotten odor.)
  • His socks stank so badly that we had to leave the room. (The socks had a very unpleasant smell.)

• Figurative or metaphorical:

  • The deal stank of corruption. (The arrangement seemed morally wrong or suspicious.)
  • That movie stank — it was a waste of time. (The movie was of very low quality.)

Advanced Usage

• "stank to high heaven": an intensified form meaning something smelled extremely bad or was obviously dishonest.

  • The fish market stank to high heaven in the summer heat. (The smell was overwhelming.)
  • His excuse stank to high heaven — nobody believed him. (The excuse was clearly false or dishonest.)

• "stank of": used figuratively to indicate a strong impression of something negative.

  • The whole situation stank of betrayal. (It strongly suggested betrayal.)

Variants and Related Words

• Stink (verb, present tense): to emit a bad smell.

  • The cheese stinks, but it is edible. (The cheese has a strong odor.)

• Stunk (past participle of stink): used with auxiliary verbs.

  • The room has stunk ever since the pipe burst. (The unpleasant smell has persisted.)

• Stinky (adj): having a strong, unpleasant smell.

  • Stinky shoes should be washed immediately. (Shoes that smell bad.)

Synonyms

• Reeked: gave off a strong, unpleasant smell.

  • The swamp reeked of decay. (Similar to "stank" but may imply a more pervasive odor.)

• Smelled foul: had a bad odor.

  • The milk smelled foul after a week. (A more general synonym.)

• Ponged (informal, British): smelled bad.

  • The locker room ponged after the game. (Informal synonym.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Stank up (or ): to fill a space with a bad smell.
  • The burnt popcorn stank up the entire kitchen. (The smell spread throughout the kitchen.)

Related Idioms

• "stank like a skunk": an idiomatic comparison meaning a very strong, offensive smell.

  • After the hike, his clothes stank like a skunk. (The smell was reminiscent of a skunk's spray.)

• "stank in the memory": a figurative use meaning something unpleasant is remembered vividly.

  • The betrayal stank in her memory for years. (The unpleasant event lingered in her thoughts.)