stinker

[ sting-ker ]

/ ˈstɪŋ kər /

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noun

a person or thing that stinks.

Informal. a mean or despicable person; louse.

Informal. something, especially some form of entertainment, of inferior quality.

Informal. something difficult: a real stinker of a crossword puzzle.

any device emitting an offensive odor, as a stink bomb or stinkpot.

Dialect. any of several large petrels.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of stinker

1600–10; 1920–25 for def. 2; stink + -er¹

Words nearby stinker

stinkard, stinkaroo, stinkball, stink bomb, stink bug, stinker, stink eye, stinkhorn, stinking, stinking ash, stinking badger

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use stinker in a sentence

Pretty well by Russian standards—a free peasant was known as a smerd, meaning “stinker.”
Russian History Is on Our Side: Putin Will Surely Screw Himself|P. J. O’Rourke|May 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And the stench of desperation from retailers, fearful that the vital Christmas holiday season will be a stinker.
Black Friday Comes Early as U.S. Retailers Panic Over Holiday Sales|Daniel Gross|November 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
[Laughs] KROLL: The “Tinker Stinker” I like, in that it felt like a true labeling of something that happens.
‘The League’ Roundtable: The Cast Dishes on the Funniest Show You’re Not Watching|Marlow Stern|November 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
My Lecter-like sense of smell tells me this gussied-up stinker has the whiff of “hit” all over it.
‘Hannibal’: Ken Tucker on His Lack of Appetite for NBC’s Serial-Killer Drama|Ken Tucker|April 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST

As for revamping Medicare, this is an across-the-board stinker.
The GOP's Budget Backfire|Kirsten Powers|April 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Nothin', only you're a white-livered stinker, an' I'm jest a-spoilin' foh a fight with you-all.
Tramping on Life|Harry Kemp
With one accord Stinker's suggestion was acclaimed, and the bomb was thrust into the glowing coals of Rumford's study fire.
The Lighter Side of School Life|Ian Hay
Stinker had produced from his pocket a corked test-tube, tightly packed with some dark substance.
The Lighter Side of School Life|Ian Hay
At that moment "the rat-faced little stinker" himself appeared, hat on head and light overcoat thrown over his arm.
Mrs. Bindle|Hebert Jenkins
"That fellow's a stinker," Wick decided, never to change his mind.
Happy House|Betsey Riddle, Freifrau von Hutten zum Stolzenberg

British Dictionary definitions for stinker

stinker

/ (ˈstɪŋkə) /

noun

a person or thing that stinks

slang a difficult or very unpleasant person or thing

slang something of very poor quality

informal any of several fulmars or related birds that feed on carrion

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

stinker

Origin of stinker

Words nearby stinker

Words related to stinker

How to use stinker in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for stinker