reek 1 of 2

noun

ˈrēk How to pronounce reek (audio)
Definition of reeknext
1
as in stench
a strong unpleasant smell a terrible reek coming from the garbage can

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in haze
an atmospheric condition in which suspended particles in the air rob it of its transparency couldn't see through the reek of smog and smoke surrounding the steel plant

Synonyms & Similar Words

reek

2 of 2

verb

as in to smell
to give off an extremely unpleasant smell those old sneakers reek something awful

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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 reek
Noun
Pro-housing groups have pointed to the influence of Heebner and other North County leaders to say the new maps’ treatment of Solana Beach and Oceanside reeks of political influence. — Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026 This dumb contest reeks of the clueless, insensitive ways of the past. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026
Verb
But the next three years reeked of alpha decay—the firm’s average yearly gain slumped from eighteen per cent to nine. — Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 Similarly, the 1979 closing of the reeking Koppers coke plant, west of Hamline Avenue along what is now Energy Park Drive, changed some Midway property values. — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 14 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for reek
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reek
  1. stench
  2. haze
  3. smell
  4. fog
  5. stink
  6. cloud
  7. mist
Noun
  • In the weeks after, more than 85 million pounds of rotting food being kept at the cold storage facility began to rot, leaving a putrid stench lingering over the area that led to infestations of rats, flies and other rodents.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The family lived in a company house beside a petroleum plant; Metze recalled waking as a child to the stench of kerosene.
    — Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of stench
Noun
  • Finding out what creates the lower haze on Venus unexpectedly solved another mystery.
    — Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Malaysia’s haze crisis is being driven largely by forest and peat fires in neighboring Indonesia, made worse by the dry weather.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of haze
Verb
  • For example, one version of the chemical carvone smells like mint, while the other has a whiff of caraway, a spice often used in rye bread.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The attorneys said detainees have complained about going three to seven hours without water, and about having access only to tap water that tastes like metal and smells like fish.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of smell
Noun
  • The most widespread fog with the lowest visibilities will be located across Scotland, Hoke, Cumberland, Sampson, Wayne, and Wilson counties.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The fog rises from Mount Tamalpais like a spirit, slowly billowing over spears of feathery redwoods and fluffs of fragrant bay laurels.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of fog
Verb
  • The onset of rot is creeping closer and the meat may even begin to stink.
    — Jack Hennessy, Outdoor Life, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The Falcons have already taken a lot of hits on defense, and their quarterback stinks.
    — Vic Tafur, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of stink
Noun
  • While Sony is expected to eventually announce a PlayStation handheld that natively plays PS5 games on next-gen AMD graphics, its PlayStation Portal streams games instead, either from your home PlayStation or from Sony’s cloud.
    — Jay Peters, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Its clouds of gas and dust form a physical shape resembling an unopened, blooming rosebud, glowing rosy-pink from dust heated by these stars.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of cloud
Noun
  • The lightweight mist also detangles and conditions without the weight of a traditional cream leave-in.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Other offerings include hydrating and volumizing shampoo and conditioner duos; a Deep Moisture Repair Hair Mask; a SahaScalp purifying scrub, and a recent trio of hair and body fragrance mists inspired by different Indian cities and states.
    — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of mist

Browse Nearby Words

reefs
reek
reeked
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Cite this Entry

“Reek.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reek. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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