skunk

noun/skʌŋk/

Frequency rank: #11,804 of 20,003 in the WORDED list (wordfreq data)

Meaning

a small black-and-white mammal known for spraying a very strong and unpleasant odor when threatened.

Illustration for the English word “skunk”

Example sentence

During our hike, we spotted a small skunk hiding under the bushes and quickly walked away to avoid being sprayed.

Synonyms & related words

  • polecat
  • mephitid

More words in ranks 11,801–11,900