stinking

/ˈstɪŋkɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈstɪŋkɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstiŋ-kiŋ/ (ame, mw)

stinking — adjective

  • stinkingpositive
  • more stinkingcomparative
  • most stinkingsuperlative

1. Something that is stinking gives off a very strong, unpleasant smell, often beca

1.形容詞B1
釋義

Something that is stinking gives off a very strong, unpleasant smell, often because it is old, rotting, or dirty.

例句

The stinking rubbish in the alley attracted rats and flies within hours.

collocation: stinking rubbish / stinking garbage

Mei-Lin held her nose as she hurried past the stinking fish market.

同義詞
  • smelly

    softer, more neutral; 'stinking' is stronger.

  • foul

    equally strong, often used for air or breath.

  • putrid

    specifically of rotting organic matter; more formal and intense.

反義詞
  • fresh

    opposite in smell quality.

  • fragrant

    a pleasant smell, usually of flowers or food.

常見錯誤

❌The milk smells stinking.
✅The milk is stinking.
💡'stinking' is an adjective that describes the thing itself, not a verb complement for 'smells.' Use 'The milk smells bad' or 'The milk is stinking.'
❌I have a stinking nose.
✅I smell a stinking smell.' or 'My nose smells something stinking.
💡'stinking' describes the source of the smell, not the organ that detects it.

2. Used informally to describe something that is extremely unpleasant, of very poor

2.形容詞B1
釋義

Used informally to describe something that is extremely unpleasant, of very poor quality, or morally wrong.

例句

I caught a stinking cold last week and stayed in bed for three days.

collocation: stinking cold (illness)

The hotel room was a stinking mess — dirty sheets and empty bottles everywhere.

collocation: stinking mess

同義詞
  • awful

    more general and slightly less intense.

  • lousy

    similar register but less common in Taiwan English.

  • rotten

    equally informal; 'rotten luck' is a common fixed phrase.

反義詞

文法句型

stinking + noun (informal)

用法筆記

This sense adds emotional force to criticism. It is common in everyday complaints but sounds too strong for formal writing or polite conversation.

常見錯誤

❌The food was stinking.' (when you mean 'bad tasting' not 'bad smelling')
✅The food tasted awful.
💡without context, 'stinking food' suggests bad smell; use 'stinking' + a different noun for figurative badness.
❌I had a stinking good time.
✅I had a stinking bad time.
💡'stinking' can only intensify negative qualities, never positive ones.

stinking — adverb