Smelly vs Stink - What's the difference?
smelly | stink |
Having a bad smell.
(figuratively) having a quality that arouses suspicion.
(figuratively, computing, slang, in extreme programming) Of inferior quality.
To have a strong bad smell.
(informal) To be greatly inferior; to perform badly.
To give an impression of dishonesty or untruth.
To cause to stink; to affect by a stink.
A strong bad smell.
(informal) A complaint or objection.
chemistry (as a subject taught in school)
(slang, New Zealand) A failure or unfortunate event.
As an adjective smelly
is having a bad smell.As a verb stink is
to have a strong bad smell.As a noun stink is
a strong bad smell.smelly
English
Adjective
(er)- She was hesitant to remove her shoes, as her socks were rather smelly .
- The detective read the documents and thought, "Something sure is smelly about this case".
- That smelly code needs to be refactored.
Synonyms
* (having a bad smell ): fetid, foul-smelling, malodorous, rank, stinky (slang), whiffy (slang); see also * (having a quality that arouses suspicion ): dodgy (informal), doubtful, dubious, suspect, suspicious * (computing: of inferior quality ):Antonyms
* (having a bad smell ): aromatic, fragrant, sweet-smelling * (having a quality that arouses suspicion ): above board, clean * (computing: of inferior quality ):stink
English
Verb
- That movie stinks . I didn't even stay for the end.
- Something stinks about the politician's excuses.
Synonyms
* (have a strong bad smell) pong, reek * (be greatly inferior) suck, blow * (give an impression of dishonesty or untruth) be fishyDerived terms
* stink up * stink outNoun
(en noun)- If you don't make a stink about the problem, nothing will be done.
- The concert was stink .