Reek vs Stink

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Reek

Top 5,000 (fairly common)

Stink

Top 2,000 (common)

Most common: Stink

	Reek	Stink
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //riːk// 🇺🇸 //rik//	🇬🇧 //stɪŋk// 🇺🇸 //stɪŋk//
Meaning	To have a strong bad smell.	To smell very bad.
Example	The garbage in the corner began to reek after a few days.	The garbage can started to stink after a week.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 5,000 (fairly common)	Top 2,000 (common)
Collocations	reek of smoke, reek of alcohol, reek of decomposing matter, reek of sweat, reek of fish	stink of, really stink, stink up, make things stink, stink to high heaven
Antonyms	freshen, clean, sweeten	sweet, fragrance, perfume
Common mistakes	Confused with 'reek' vs 'reeked'; 'reeked' is past tense., Using 'reek' without a preposition like 'of' for clarity., Mixing it up with similar sounding words like 'wreak'.	Confused with 'stunk' - remember it's present tense., Using 'stink' with only a subject - needs an object., Mixing up with 'smell' - 'stink' is more negative.
Usage notes	Use 'reek' in neutral to slightly negative contexts. Avoid in formal writing as it may seem informal or overly strong.	Often used informally. Can refer to bad smells or unpleasant situations. Avoid in formal writing.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek...

Reek

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

No more slinker. No more stinker.

Breaking Bad › S1 E2

Try dragging 200 pounds of stink up a flight of stairs.

... your stink.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

No more slinker. No more stinker.

Breaking Bad › S1 E2

Try dragging 200 pounds of stink up a flight of stairs.

Stink

Frequently asked questions: Reek vs Stink

What's the difference between Reek and Stink?

Reek: To have a strong bad smell. Stink: To smell very bad.

Which is more common: Reek and Stink?

Stink is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Reek: The garbage in the corner began to reek after a few days. Stink: The garbage can started to stink after a week.

Can I use Reek and Stink interchangeably?

Not always. Reek and Stink are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.