Stench: meaning, definitions and examples

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stench

 

[ sten(t)Κƒ ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

unpleasant smell

A strong and very unpleasant smell.

Synonyms

odor, reek, stenchiness

Examples of usage

  • The stench of rotten eggs filled the room.
  • She wrinkled her nose at the stench coming from the garbage bin.
Context #2 | Verb

emit a strong smell

To have a strong and very unpleasant smell.

Synonyms

reek, smell, stink

Examples of usage

  • The garbage bin stenches up the whole street.
  • The flowers stenched as they wilted in the heat.

Etymology

The word 'stench' originated from Middle English 'stenche', which came from Old English 'stenc', meaning odor or smell. Over time, the word evolved to its current usage to describe a strong and unpleasant smell. The concept of stench has been present in language for centuries, as humans have always been attuned to odors and their impact on the environment and health.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,824, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.