Stinker: meaning, definitions and examples

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stinker

 

[ ˈstɪŋkər ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

smelly person

A person or thing that smells very unpleasant.

Synonyms

malodorous individual, smelly person.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
stinker

Appropriate to use in informal or casual settings when referring humorously or lightly to someone with an unpleasant smell. It can sometimes be slightly pejorative.

  • After the gym, Mark was a real stinker.
  • That old fish is a real stinker!
smelly person

Chances are higher to use it in everyday conversation or informal writing to straightforwardly describe someone who has a bad odor. It is simple and easily understood by all.

  • I had to leave the room because of that smelly person.
  • Nobody wanted to sit near the smelly person on the train.
malodorous individual

More formal expression, used in writing or serious conversations to describe someone with a strong, unpleasant smell. It is typically used in a more objective manner.

  • The malodorous individual sitting next to me made the bus ride quite uncomfortable.
  • Residents have complained about a malodorous individual loitering in the park.

Examples of usage

  • He's a real stinker, always leaving his dirty socks everywhere.
  • The garbage can is starting to smell like a stinker.
Context #2 | Noun

informal

A person who is dishonest or untrustworthy.

Synonyms

dishonest person, untrustworthy individual.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
stinker

This word is informal and is typically used to refer to someone who is unpleasant or nasty. It can sometimes be used playfully or endearingly among friends.

  • That guy is such a stinker; he always plays pranks on us.
  • Don't be a stinker and spoil the surprise!
dishonest person

This phrase is formal and is used to describe someone who lies or cheats. It is often used in more serious conversations where integrity is in question.

  • I found out that the contractor was a dishonest person who overcharged us.
  • We need to be careful not to hire dishonest people for our project.
untrustworthy individual

This phrase is formal and emphasizes the inability to rely on a person. It is used in serious contexts, particularly when discussing someone's reliability or integrity.

  • She realized he was an untrustworthy individual after he broke his promises multiple times.
  • It's risky to work with untrustworthy individuals in such an important project.

Examples of usage

  • Watch out for him, he's a real stinker when it comes to keeping promises.
  • Don't trust that stinker with your money.

Translations

Translations of the word "stinker" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fedorento

🇮🇳 बदबूदार व्यक्ति

🇩🇪 Stinker

🇮🇩 bau busuk

🇺🇦 смердючка

🇵🇱 śmierdziel

🇯🇵 悪臭を放つ人

🇫🇷 puant

🇪🇸 apestoso

🇹🇷 pis kokulu kişi

🇰🇷 악취가 나는 사람

🇸🇦 شخص ذو رائحة كريهة

🇨🇿 smraďoch

🇸🇰 smraďoch

🇨🇳 臭人

🇸🇮 smrdec

🇮🇸 fýlupúki

🇰🇿 сасық адам

🇬🇪 ყარს

🇦🇿 pis qoxulu şəxs

🇲🇽 apestoso

Etymology

The word 'stinker' originated in the late 19th century, derived from the verb 'stink' which means to emit a strong unpleasant smell. Over time, 'stinker' evolved to also describe a person who exhibits unpleasant characteristics, such as being smelly or dishonest.

See also: stink, stinky.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,734, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.