stinker — English Dictionary

Noun

1. One who stinks.

   Examples

   Skunks are the worst stinkers in the animal kingdom.

2. A contemptible person or thing.

   Usage

   • Slang

   Examples

   "Stop squallin', you little stinker!" She struck the child with her open hand across the face.

   More examples (1)

   "But it's far worse for me," said Edmund, "because you'll at least have a room of your own and I shall have to share a bedroom with that record stinker, Eustace."

   Never be a stinker, because if you are, though you may flourish for a time like a green bay tree, sooner or later retribution will overtake you.

   More examples (1)

   When you are colonized by dangerous bacteria their presence in your body does no damage. You become a reservoir for those little stinkers.

3. Something difficult (e.g. a given puzzle) or unpleasant (e.g. negative review, nasty letter).

   Usage

   • Slang

   Examples

   Today's crossword is a stinker.

   I number several authors among my acquaintance […] and they invariably become all of a doodah when they read a stinker in the press about their latest effort.

   More examples (1)

   I sat there seething with fury. And after I had seethed for a bit I rose from my chair, took pen in hand and wrote Bobbie a stinker. […] I accused her in set terms of giving me the heave-ho in order that she could mercenarily marry a richer man. I called her a carrot-topped Jezebel whom I was thankful to have got out of my hair. I... Oh, I can't remember what else I said but, as I say, it was a stinker.

4. Something of poor quality.

   Usage

   • UK usage
   • Slang

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The barely-released stinker Dark Tide continues Stockwell’s fetishistic pattern, coming alive whenever it’s paddling among the sharks off the South African coast and settling in for a long snooze once it gets back on the boat or reaches dry land.

   Steven Pinker, Rational Thinker: His new book is a stinker. [title]

   Now it’s over, let’s come out and say it: The Rings of Power was a stinker [title]

5. Any of several species of large Antarctic petrels which feed on blubber and carrion and have an offensive odour, such as the giant fulmar.

6. A chemist.

   Usage

   • Slang

7. A hot day.

   Usage

   • Australia
   • Slang

   Synonyms

   scorcher

8. A black eye.

   Usage

   • Australia
   • Slang

9. A western grey kangaroo.

   Usage

   • Australia
   • Informal

10. A giant petrel.

    Usage

    • Colloquial

11. An eastern long-necked turtle (which emits a foul-smelling musk when threatened).

    Usage

    • Colloquial

Noun

1. a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible

   Synonyms

   rotterdirty dogratskunkstinkpotbumpukecrumblowlifescumbagso-and-sogitscum bag

   Broader terms

   unpleasant persondisagreeable person

   Examples

   only a rotter would do that

   kill the rat

   More examples (3)

   throw the bum out

   you cowardly little pukes!

   the British call a contemptible person a ‘git’

2. anything that gives off an offensive odor (especially a cheap cigar)

   Broader terms

   thing

3. an artifact (especially an automobile) that is defective or unsatisfactory

   Synonyms

   lemon

   Broader terms

   artifactartefact