Stench: meaning, definitions and examples
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stench
[sten(t)ʃ ]
Definitions
unpleasant smell
A strong and very unpleasant smell.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| stench |
Stench is commonly used to describe a very strong and unpleasant smell, often something rotting or decaying. It has a very negative connotation.
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| odor |
Odor is a general term for any smell, good or bad. It's a more neutral word compared to 'stench' or 'reek' and can be used in a wider variety of contexts.
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| reek |
Reek is used to describe a very strong, unpleasant smell, similar to 'stench'. However, reek often implies a more pervasive quality, suggesting that the smell is hard to escape from.
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| stenchiness |
Stenchiness is a noun form that describes the quality of having an unpleasant, strong smell. It is less commonly used and usually implies a general state rather than a specific smell.
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Examples of usage
- The stench of rotten eggs filled the room.
- She wrinkled her nose at the stench coming from the garbage bin.
emit a strong smell
To have a strong and very unpleasant smell.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| stench |
This word is used to describe a very strong and unpleasant odor, often associated with decay or rot.
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| smell |
This is a neutral word that can refer to any kind of odor, whether pleasant or unpleasant.
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| reek |
This word implies a strong, unpleasant smell and sometimes suggests that the smell is pervasive or lingering.
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| stink |
This word has a negative connotation and is used to describe something that smells very bad.
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Examples of usage
- The garbage bin stenches up the whole street.
- The flowers stenched as they wilted in the heat.
Interesting Facts
Etymology
- The word comes from the Old English term 'stenc', which means 'smell' or 'odour'.
- Related words in other languages—like 'stench' in French ('sentir')—also refer to a bad smell, showing how different languages express unpleasant scents.
Science
- The human nose can detect over 1 trillion different scents, making the perception of stench highly subjective.
- Certain compounds, like hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs, are notorious for creating strong stenches and can be harmful in high concentrations.
Literature
- In various works, including Charles Dickens' 'Oliver Twist', descriptors of stench vividly evoke settings and character emotions, enhancing the reader's experience.
- Edgar Allan Poe often used imagery related to foul odours to set a dark, eerie mood in his horror stories.
Pop Culture
- In the animated movie 'Shrek', the main character, Shrek, is often associated with foul smells, which adds humor and defines his ogre identity.
- The scent of stench has been featured in songs and memes, symbolizing anything undesirable, from bad relationships to unpleasant situations.
Environment
- Stenches can indicate environmental issues, such as pollution from industrial waste or decaying organic matter affecting ecosystems.
- Certain areas with high stench levels can become hotspots for biotechnology research, aiming to find ways to reduce unpleasant odours in urban settings.