stinky

Stinky is an informal English adjective used to describe a strong, unpleasant odor. The term can apply to a wide range of smells, from rotten food and garbage to body odor, chemical fumes, or damp environments. The intensity and offensiveness of a stinky smell can vary with context and individual sensitivity.

It is formed from the verb stink plus the common English suffix -y, which yields a descriptive adjective indicating character or quality.

In everyday speech, people might say “that cheese is stinky” or “stinky socks” to convey humor or mild disapproval. The word is often used playfully, especially among children, and can carry a light-hearted tone even when describing something unpleasant.

More formal terms include malodorous or fetid for strongly unpleasant odors, while stinky is softer and colloquial. Stink as a noun or verb relates to the odor or the act of smelling badly.

Stinky appears in popular culture as a nickname or character name, such as Stinky Pete in Toy Story 2, though this usage can be context-specific.

See also: odor, smell, malodor, fetor, fetid, stink.