reek
14 synonyms and 3 antonyms for reek, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A strong, unpleasant smell.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A strong, unpleasant smell.
“The reek of stale beer hung over the pub the next morning.”
Opposites
How to use reek
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
reek of smoke
reek of corruption
a foul reek
Etymology
From Old English rec, \"smoke,\" related to German Rauch.
Full origin of reek →Frequently asked questions
What does “reek” mean?
The word “reek” means a strong, unpleasant smell. In plain terms, to smell strongly and unpleasantly, or figuratively, to seem clearly tainted by something bad.
How do you pronounce “reek”?
“Reek” is pronounced reek (/riːk/ in IPA).
How do you use “reek” in a sentence?
Here is “reek” used in a sentence: “The reek of stale beer hung over the pub the next morning.”
What is another word for “reek”?
Words with a similar meaning to “reek” include funk, honk, niff, hum, pong and smell.
What is the opposite of “reek”?
The opposite of “reek” — its antonyms — are defunkify, destinkify and deodorize.
What part of speech is “reek”?
Depending on how it is used, “reek” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “reek” come from?
The word “reek” comes from Old English. From Old English rec, \"smoke,\" related to German Rauch.
How many meanings does “reek” have?
“Reek” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a strong, unpleasant smell.
