rank 1 of 3

rank

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noun

1
as in ranking
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement attained the highest rank in the Freemasons

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in row
a series of people or things arranged side by side rank upon rank of cavalry came thundering down the hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

rank

3 of 3

adjective

1
as in rampant
growing thickly and vigorously covered with trumpet vines so rank you couldn't see the trellis beneath them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word rank distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of rank are fetid, fusty, malodorous, musty, noisome, putrid, and stinking. While all these words mean "bad-smelling," rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

How do fusty and musty relate to one another, in the sense of rank?

Both fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.

a fusty attic
the musty odor of a damp cellar

When is malodorous a more appropriate choice than rank?

The synonyms malodorous and rank are sometimes interchangeable, but malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

In what contexts can noisome take the place of rank?

While the synonyms noisome and rank are close in meaning, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

When might putrid be a better fit than rank?

Although the words putrid and rank have much in common, putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

How are the words stinking and fetid related as synonyms of rank?

Both stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells
the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rank
Verb
The Ohio nonprofit, ranked among the top hospitals in the world, pledged to bring expert care and an infusion of cash to the region north of Boca Raton. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 24 July 2025 The study by personal finance company WalletHub ranked Arizona's school system 48th in the nation. Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
Noun
His total earnings rank third all-time at $3,612,216. Take the Jeopardy! audition test Potential contestants are invited to audition by taking the show's online test, which can be found here: jeopardy.com/be-on-j/anytime-test. John Tufts, IndyStar, 21 July 2025 But the democracy crowd in NYC has done nothing except bring rank choice voting into a closed party primary system, the only place in the entire country that has been done. John Opdycke, New York Daily News, 21 July 2025
Adjective
Both Heritage and Fraser rank Peru in the top third of the world. Alejandro Antonio Chafuen, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025 Forcing priests to divulge confessions, while exempting all manner of secular confessors, is rank religious discrimination. Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for rank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank
Verb
  • Sanders said that his office reviews all felony charges filed by police and those cases are presented to a grand jury if prosecutors believe there is probable cause that a felony was committed.
    Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 23 July 2025
  • There is a stone wall near the new beach that helps stabilize it, as well as dry prairie grasses meant to deter birds, which contributed to the bacteria levels in the water.
    Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 23 July 2025
Verb
  • The information, classified as secret, pertained to military targets and Russian military capabilities, according to the plea agreement.
    CBS News, CBS News, 14 July 2025
  • Hotels were classified among resorts, city hotels, inn or safari lodge.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images Recently, a new all-time ranking was revealed by Bleacher Report.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
  • Chinese universities have risen steadily in global rankings, with 15 schools in mainland China and Hong Kong listed among the top 100 universities on the 2025-2026 Best Global Universities Rankings, compiled by U.S. News and World Report.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Our communities should not have to rely on court orders to be treated with dignity.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 19 July 2025
  • This religious minority known for its dignity, neutrality, resiliency, and peaceful resistance is now being targeted by Jihadi militias supported by the Syrian regime, with tanks artillery, and heavy weapons.
    Sawsan Natour-Hasson, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
Noun
  • The Clue: This Wordle has two vowels and two consonants in a row.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
  • Berra did pretty much everything else, too: three MVP awards, 10 World Series titles, 15 years in a row as an All-Star, the life of a legend.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 25 July 2025
Noun
  • This included a category specific to Texas resort hotels, which were rated on rooms/facilities, location, service, food and value.
    Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 14 July 2025
  • Criminal Justice Danielle Clark, Riverdale High: Natural leadership ability, dedication to her classes and commitment to club organizations like Skills USA Criminal Justice and JROTC led to Clark’s nomination and being the top vote-getter in the criminal justice category.
    Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Homelessness is still rampant — and the idea of homeownership feels like a cruel joke to the many millions of households in the Golden State with income far higher than the national median of $75,000.
    U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2025
  • With both systems under one leader, speculation is rampant that Broward’s two health districts will merge.
    Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2025
Adjective
  • This is about a team with a top-10 payroll whose GM committed too stinking much of it to dogs that can’t, or won’t, pull the sled.
    Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2019
  • Muttaiah said the man inside the stinking manhole was working without any safety equipment — no gloves, no shoes, no supplemental oxygen.
    Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2019

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Cite this Entry

“Rank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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