stanky

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

smelly; stinky

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

A gross-gutted, bulb-nosed, bourbon-stanky Boston flatfoot in plain clothes wrinkled white sox, with a race track tip-sheet stuffed in his back pocket trying real hard to mingle unnoticed at an elegant Buddies "do" to glean inside-dope.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Having the quality called stank, i.e. jazzy, funky, good.

Register: slang

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “stanky” mean?

smelly; stinky

Is “stanky” formal or informal?

stanky is generally slang.