the stench of rotting meat
we finally discovered the dead rat that was causing the stench in the basement
Recent Examples on the WebThere was a horrible stench in apartments where older adults died, alone, while their families were vacationing.—Zoya Teirstein, USA TODAY, 6 Aug. 2024 Samara tries to shield herself from the stench by covering her mouth and nose.—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 18 Sep. 2024 Complicating matters further: Researchers and county officials are sharply split on whether the stench is simply a nuisance or a danger to public health.—Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024 In the stifling summer heat, the stench and filth that envelope us are an inevitable reality of war – just as familiar as the pangs of hunger and the distant sounds of bombing.—Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for stench
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stench.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English stenc; akin to Old English stincan to emit a smell — more at stink
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of stench was
before the 12th century
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