Definition

Having a strong, unpleasant smell; often associated with smoke or decay.

Example

The reeky room made it hard to breathe.

Comparatives & Superlatives

Conversation

Have you noticed how reeky the kitchen gets when we cook fish?

Oh, for sure! I can't stand that smell afterward.

Right? We need to open a window to air it out.

Definitely! Or maybe we should just avoid cooking fish altogether.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Reeky is derived from the Old English "reoc" (meaning smoke or vapor) and the suffix "-y" (meaning characterized by). The word "reeky" describes something that is characterized by smoke or has a smoky quality.

Memory Tip

Think of 'smoke' ('reoc') to remember that 'reeky' means something that has a smoky quality.

Visually Confused Words