adjective / adverb
stinking
STING-king/ˈstɪŋkɪŋ/
Extremely offensive in quality.
The stinking rubbish makes the woman pinch her nose and recoil.
Etymology
The verb originally covered smells of any kind, even sweet ones. Its offensive-smell sense came to dominate, so stinking describes something actively giving off a bad smell.
In context
It is a custom loathome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs and in the black stinking fume thereof.
More examples
- This stinking rule keeps us from using the park.
- His family is stinking rich, but he rarely mentions money.
- I have a stinking cold and can barely speak.
Forms
stinking
stink verb — To be extremely bad or objectionable.