reek
Third Person
reeks
Present Participle
reeking
Past Tense
reeked
Past Participle
reeked
1
to emit a strong and offensive odor
- The stagnant water in the pond began to reek after days of no movement.
- The damp basement reeked of mold and mildew.
- After a week of hot weather, the garbage in the bin started to reek.
- The gym locker room will reek if sneakers are left for too long.
- If food scraps are left unattended, they can start to reek.
Synonyms:
2
to be indicative of an unpleasant quality
- The politician's sudden change of stance on the issue reeked of insincerity and opportunism.
- The suspiciously low prices of the products at the market reeked of potential counterfeiting.
- The constant delays and excuses from the contractor reeked of incompetence and unreliability.
- The eerie silence in the usually bustling town square reeked of foreboding and tension.
- The overly sweet smell of the dessert reeked of artificial flavors and preservatives.
3
to emit smoke or fumes
- The chimney of the old house began to reek as the fire crackled inside.
- As the old boiler overheated, it started to reek, signaling a potential malfunction.
- The factory chimney reeked with thick black smoke, polluting the surrounding air.