stinking

American  

[sting-king] / ˈstɪŋ kɪŋ /

adjective

1. that smells foul; foul-smelling.

   Synonyms:

   rank, miasmal, foul, putrescent, rotten, putrid, smelly

2. Slang. very drunk; plastered.

3. Slang. very rich.

   His father left him so much money he's stinking.

4. contemptible; disgusting.

   a stinking shame.

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adverb

1. completely or extremely.

   stinking drunk.

stinking British  

/ ˈstɪŋkɪŋ /

adjective

1. having a foul smell

2. informal unpleasant or disgusting

3. slang (postpositive) very drunk

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adverb

1. informal (intensifier, expressing contempt for the person referred to)

   stinking rich

Other Word Forms

• stinkingly adverb
• stinkingness noun

Etymology

Origin of stinking

before 1000; Middle English stinkinge, Old English stincende. See stink, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Not the good, high-altitude ozone that shields us from dangerous UV light, but bad ozone, hovering right above ground level — stinking, brownish, grayish photochemical smog.

From Los Angeles Times

To others, it put a stop to nights of stinging eyes and stinking clothes - and, most importantly, it saved lives.

From BBC

With the rushlight he cast around, plunging his hand into the stinking mounds.

From Literature

Miles and miles of refineries and their stinking tailings ponds, adjacent to beach resorts that run on desalination plants.

From Salon

A pot of some stinking brew was boiling over a fire.

From Literature

Related Words

• fetid
• foul-smelling
• funky
• putrid