Reek
verb
To have a powerful, unpleasant smell.
The garbage left in the sun started to reek.
Often appears as...
- reek of
- reek like
verb
To give a strong impression of a specific, usually negative, quality or characteristic.
His actions reek of selfishness and arrogance.
Often appears as...
- reek of
- reek with
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To have a powerful, unpleasant smell.
The garbage left in the sun started to reek.
Often appears as...
- reek of
- reek like
verb
To give a strong impression of a specific, usually negative, quality or characteristic.
His actions reek of selfishness and arrogance.
Often appears as...
- reek of
- reek with
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Implication
Using 'reek' in reference to smells suggests a strong, negative reaction.
His room reeked of stale pizza and sweat.
Pro Tip 2/3Intensity Matters
'Reek' implies a smell is intense and pervasive, easily noticed by others.
The entire hallway reeked of burnt popcorn.
Pro Tip 3/3Physical Discomfort
'Reek' can suggest the smell causes physical discomfort or offense.
People covered their noses; the dumpster reeked.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Implication
Using 'reek' in reference to smells suggests a strong, negative reaction.
His room reeked of stale pizza and sweat.
Pro Tip 2/3Intensity Matters
'Reek' implies a smell is intense and pervasive, easily noticed by others.
The entire hallway reeked of burnt popcorn.
Pro Tip 3/3Physical Discomfort
'Reek' can suggest the smell causes physical discomfort or offense.
People covered their noses; the dumpster reeked.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Implication
Using 'reek' in reference to smells suggests a strong, negative reaction.
His room reeked of stale pizza and sweat.
Pro Tip 2/3Intensity Matters
'Reek' implies a smell is intense and pervasive, easily noticed by others.
The entire hallway reeked of burnt popcorn.
Pro Tip 3/3Physical Discomfort
'Reek' can suggest the smell causes physical discomfort or offense.
People covered their noses; the dumpster reeked.
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Video examples
4 Lessons in Creativity...
and you put it on top, and smoke starts pouring out. I would come home with my clothes reeking of woodsmoke. I love raku because it allows me to play with the elements. I can shape a pot out of clay and choose a glaze,
Video examples
Endangered Sea Creatures...
major problem and reek goes out with locals to see how overfishing by commercial boats and large Nets has helped wipe out the fish population
Video examples
4 Lessons in Creativity...
and you put it on top, and smoke starts pouring out. I would come home with my clothes reeking of woodsmoke. I love raku because it allows me to play with the elements. I can shape a pot out of clay and choose a glaze,
Video examples
Endangered Sea Creatures...
major problem and reek goes out with locals to see how overfishing by commercial boats and large Nets has helped wipe out the fish population
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Lynn Coady
Canadian Novelist
Do not make the writer stand behind a podium. Anything but. A podium reeks of the lecture hall. A music stand, on the other hand, is nicely minimal and lends the writer - who usually needs all the help s/he can get - a musician's second-hand cool-factor.
Quote examples
Madison Beer
American Musician
My weirdest scent association is probably Axe Body Spray, because every boy I know wears that stuff, and the smell is so specific! And the loud noise when you spray it! My little brother used to wear it, and the whole house would reek of it for days.
Quote examples
Paulina Porizkova
Czechoslovakian Model
I used to think the word 'feminist' reeked of insecurity. A woman who needed to state that she was equal to a man might as well be shouting that she was smart or brave. If you were, you wouldn't need to say it.
Quote examples
Adora Svitak
American Author
Prom has all the elements of a popular story. It reeks of all-Americanness, tension, drama. It has romance. Pretty dresses. Dancing. Limos. High school. Coming of age.
Quote examples
Gordon B. Hinckley
American Clergyman
We live in a world that is filled with filth and sleaze, a world that reeks of evil. You cannot afford that filthy poison to touch you. Stay away from it. Avoid it.
Quote examples
Steve Kornacki
The Tea Party was really a two-front war - one against Obama, the other against any Republican politician who reeked of insiderdom or insufficient purity.
Quote examples
Julie Klausner
American Author
I'm always suspicious when a guy takes his date on a walk, because it reeks of poverty and an inability to plan.
Quote examples
Dave Foley
Canadian Comedian
There's something about strip malls that just reeks of my childhood.
Quote examples
Rene Magritte
Belgian Artist
The present reeks of mediocrity and the atom bomb.
Quote examples
Maggie Lawson
American Actress
William Shatner just reeks of cool.
Quote examples
Lynn Coady
Canadian Novelist
Do not make the writer stand behind a podium. Anything but. A podium reeks of the lecture hall. A music stand, on the other hand, is nicely minimal and lends the writer - who usually needs all the help s/he can get - a musician's second-hand cool-factor.
Quote examples
Madison Beer
American Musician
My weirdest scent association is probably Axe Body Spray, because every boy I know wears that stuff, and the smell is so specific! And the loud noise when you spray it! My little brother used to wear it, and the whole house would reek of it for days.
Quote examples
Paulina Porizkova
Czechoslovakian Model
I used to think the word 'feminist' reeked of insecurity. A woman who needed to state that she was equal to a man might as well be shouting that she was smart or brave. If you were, you wouldn't need to say it.
Quote examples
Adora Svitak
American Author
Prom has all the elements of a popular story. It reeks of all-Americanness, tension, drama. It has romance. Pretty dresses. Dancing. Limos. High school. Coming of age.
Quote examples
Gordon B. Hinckley
American Clergyman
We live in a world that is filled with filth and sleaze, a world that reeks of evil. You cannot afford that filthy poison to touch you. Stay away from it. Avoid it.
Quote examples
Steve Kornacki
The Tea Party was really a two-front war - one against Obama, the other against any Republican politician who reeked of insiderdom or insufficient purity.
Quote examples
Julie Klausner
American Author
I'm always suspicious when a guy takes his date on a walk, because it reeks of poverty and an inability to plan.
Quote examples
Dave Foley
Canadian Comedian
There's something about strip malls that just reeks of my childhood.
Quote examples
Rene Magritte
Belgian Artist
The present reeks of mediocrity and the atom bomb.
Quote examples
Maggie Lawson
American Actress
William Shatner just reeks of cool.
Example 1 of 10
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