stinker

[ sting-ker ]

noun

1. a person or thing that stinks.
2. Informal. a mean or despicable person; louse.
3. Informal. something, especially some form of entertainment, of inferior quality.
4. Informal. something difficult:

   a real stinker of a crossword puzzle.

5. any device emitting an offensive odor, as a stink bomb or stinkpot.
6. Dialect. any of several large petrels.

stinker

/ ˈstɪŋkə /

noun

1. a person or thing that stinks
2. slang.
   a difficult or very unpleasant person or thing
3. slang.
   something of very poor quality
4. informal.
   any of several fulmars or related birds that feed on carrion

Word History and Origins

Origin of stinker¹

1600–10; 1920–25 stinker fordef 2; stink + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Pretty well by Russian standards—a free peasant was known as a smerd, meaning “stinker.”

From The Daily Beast

And the stench of desperation from retailers, fearful that the vital Christmas holiday season will be a stinker.

From The Daily Beast

[Laughs] KROLL: The “Tinker Stinker” I like, in that it felt like a true labeling of something that happens.

From The Daily Beast

My Lecter-like sense of smell tells me this gussied-up stinker has the whiff of “hit” all over it.

From The Daily Beast

As for revamping Medicare, this is an across-the-board stinker.

From The Daily Beast

Nothin', only you're a white-livered stinker, an' I'm jest a-spoilin' foh a fight with you-all.

From Project Gutenberg

With one accord Stinker's suggestion was acclaimed, and the bomb was thrust into the glowing coals of Rumford's study fire.

From Project Gutenberg

Stinker had produced from his pocket a corked test-tube, tightly packed with some dark substance.

From Project Gutenberg

At that moment "the rat-faced little stinker" himself appeared, hat on head and light overcoat thrown over his arm.

From Project Gutenberg

"That fellow's a stinker," Wick decided, never to change his mind.

From Project Gutenberg