skunk 1 of 2

noun

ˈskəŋk How to pronounce skunk (audio)
Definition of skunknext
as in dog
a person whose behavior is offensive to others he's nothing but a dirty, rotten skunk

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

skunk

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to bomb
to defeat by a large margin we ended up skunking them, as our goalie was able to prevent the other team from scoring a single goal

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2
as in to defeat
to achieve a victory over our football team consistently skunks our traditional rivals Thanksgiving after Thanksgiving

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to sting
to rob by the use of trickery or threats unwilling to let suppliers skunk him, the restaurant owner inspected every shipment before signing off on it

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of skunk
Noun
And coyotes regulate populations of mesocarnivores like skunks and raccoons, helping support the survival of ground-nesting birds. — CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 In North Carolina, rabies cases are most commonly found in raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats, Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health and Health Administration Rafael Vieira told UNC Charlotte. — Eva Flowe october 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
That means two out of three Minnesota turkey hunters are going skunked this spring. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026 Long-term, however, the S&P 500 has skunked the world index, and shows very sign of continuing to do so. — Larry Light, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for skunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skunk
  1. dog
  2. bomb
  3. defeat
  4. sting
  5. clown
  6. smoke
  7. master
  8. cheat
Noun
  • Lamm told TechCrunch that conventional breeding can produce dogs with poor eyesight or genetic predispositions to cancer.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Cadaver dogs also alerted to the scent of a corpse in the vehicle.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of dog
Verb
  • The Israelis bombed the cemetery where her friends were buried, leaving body parts and bones scattered for relatives to collect like a puzzle.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • But shipments have since collapsed in the eight months since Iran bombed its key production facility at Ras Laffan.
    — Spencer Kimball,Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of bomb
Verb
  • This was the sixth year in a row that the Yankees failed to defeat a higher-seeded playoff opponent.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Although supporters say the fear that billionaires will flee the state are overblown, the ultrawealthy have made moves to potentially avoid paying the tax or are funding campaigns to defeat it.
    — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of defeat
Verb
  • Continue reading … CROSSING THE AISLE — Manchin delivers stinging rebuke to Schumer with surprise Senate campaign stop.
    — , FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • All of a sudden, Bass was a staggering champion lunging at a revived Raman, who swung and stung and ducked the way only a hungry up-and-comer can.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of sting
Noun
  • That’s not to jinx the master clown who’s currently doddering around in Argan’s shoes on Broadway.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In several descriptions of these amateur events, including some of his own, Hemingway sounds less like a matador than a rodeo clown.
    — Stephen Bates, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of clown
Verb
  • The demographics of patients are also distinct — for instance, women who have never smoked are more than twice as likely to get lung cancer as men who have never smoked.
    — Meeri Kim, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
  • At least one witness told cops the teen was smoking marijuana on the train when Rodriguez confronted him about it, sparking an argument, but police have since discounted that theory, sources said.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of smoke
Verb
  • In an industry obsessed with the next big thing, Ben Bennett has mastered the art of actually seeing what comes next.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Knowing how to facilitate that process, though, is a surprisingly difficult skill to master.
    — Joe Perkins, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of master
Verb
  • But the idea that girls are being cheated is personal for some athletes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Miller—who is no stranger to extramarital tabloid scandals herself—has also mastered her getting-cheated-on performances.
    — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of cheat

Browse Nearby Words

skull sessions
skunk
skunked
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Cite this Entry

“Skunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skunk. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on skunk

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about skunk

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