stench

Noun

A strong and very unpleasant smell.
a distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant
a strong foul smell; a stink.
A foul quality.
A smell or odour, not necessarily bad.

Verb

To cause to emit a disagreeable odour; to cause to stink.
To stanch.

Examples

The stench of defeat filled the air after his opponent’s unexpected bingo.
the stench of political corruption

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English stench, from Old English stenċ (“stench, odor, fragrance”), from Proto-Germanic *stankwiz (“smell, fragrance, odor”), from Proto-Indo-European *stengʷ- (“to push, thrust”). Cognate with Dutch stank (“stench, odor”), German Stank, Gestank (“stench, odor, smell”), Danish stank (“stench”), Swedish stank (“stench”), Icelandic stækja (“stench”).

Synonyms

fetor, foetor, malodor, malodour, mephitis, reek, stink, funk, niff, nosesore, pong, stench

Antonyms

aroma, fragrance, perfume

Scrabble Score: 11

stench: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
stench: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
stench: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

stench: valid Words With Friends Word