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rank

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noun

1
as in ranking
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement attained the highest rank in the Freemasons

Synonyms & Similar Words

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3
as in row
a series of people or things arranged side by side rank upon rank of cavalry came thundering down the hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

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rank

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adjective

1
as in rampant
growing thickly and vigorously covered with trumpet vines so rank you couldn't see the trellis beneath them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word rank distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of rank are fetid, fusty, malodorous, musty, noisome, putrid, and stinking. While all these words mean "bad-smelling," rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

How do fusty and musty relate to one another, in the sense of rank?

Both fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.

a fusty attic
the musty odor of a damp cellar

When is malodorous a more appropriate choice than rank?

The synonyms malodorous and rank are sometimes interchangeable, but malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

In what contexts can noisome take the place of rank?

While the synonyms noisome and rank are close in meaning, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

When might putrid be a better fit than rank?

Although the words putrid and rank have much in common, putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

How are the words stinking and fetid related as synonyms of rank?

Both stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells
the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

Examples of rank in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Inflation is a big issue that splits along party lines Inflation has emerged as the top economic issue for Americans, according to a new survey in which 41% of respondents ranked it at the top, but with respondents split sharply according to their political orientation. Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 27 Oct. 2024 Read the game story here. KHSAA football: Trinity football — ranked No. 2 in Class 6A — completed an 8-2 regular season and will be off next week before hosting a first-round playoff game. Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 26 Oct. 2024
Noun
The actress is starring in a new SKIMS campaign that raises money for the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation Comments Olivia Munn is joining the ranks of other celebrities who have posed for the loungewear brand SKIMS. Dave Quinn, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024 During the protests last spring, some faculty members joined ranks with demonstrators. Annie Ma, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Oct. 2024
Adjective
The Denver Chute Out, Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, features top bull riders squaring off against the rankest bucking bulls in North America. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2024 In the late 1940s, when the emerging post–World War II global order started to frown upon such rank imperialism, the U.S. allowed Puerto Ricans to elect our own governor and start drafting a Constitution. Alberto C. Medina, The New Republic, 24 July 2023 See all Example Sentences for rank 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rank.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near rank

Cite this Entry

“Rank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

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