stench
Americannoun
-
an offensive smell or odor; stink.
-
a foul quality.
noun
Synonym Usage
See odor.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of stench
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English stenc “odor (good or bad)”; akin to stink
Explanation
When you pass a dump, you might hold your nose and say, "Oh, I can't handle the stench." A stench is a bad smell. Stench can also be used metaphorically. If it is discovered that many members of a police force have been taking money from mob bosses so that they can continue their life of crime, a new chief may be brought in to remove the stench of corruption from the office. In either sense, stench is the kind of smell that takes work to get rid of.
Vocabulary lists containing stench
The Nose Knows: Olfactory Vocabulary
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"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
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Inside Out & Back Again
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But the biggest draw might be the deathlike stench when they open—and people are willing to wait hours to catch a whiff.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 10, 2026
Now they say the stench from the 85 million pounds of now-rotting food that was stored inside the refrigeration warehouse is forcing them and their children to remain indoors.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026
The few toilets are overwhelmed, outbreaks of diarrhoea have been reported and the stench of urine and faeces hangs heavy.
From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026
Neighbours said the stench from the property had become so overwhelming that it was impossible to relax at home.
From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026
I didn’t realize until I hit the ground outside that the stench was my own.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
