skunked

1. 1
   verbUS

   Past tense and past participle of skunk. Use it for the past, or after has, have, had, was or got.

   They skunked the other team and never let them score.

   Our side got skunked in the very first game.

   Note
2. 2
   adjectiveslang

   Having caught no fish at all on a fishing trip.

   Like going to the store and coming home with an empty bag.

   We came home skunked after eight hours on the lake.

   By sunset the whole group was skunked, with not a single bite all day.

   Similarempty-handed, fishless

   Note
3. 3
   adjective

   Spoiled because it was stored badly or left in the light.

   Like milk that has gone sour and tastes wrong.

   The beer tasted skunked after sitting in the sun all afternoon.

   Bottles in clear glass get skunked fast on a bright shelf.

   Similarspoiled, lightstruck, off

   Oppositefresh

   Note
4. 4
   adjectiveslang

   Very drunk or high from alcohol or drugs.

   He was completely skunked by the end of the party.

   They stumbled home skunked after the festival.

   Similardrunk, wasted, hammered, smashed, plastered

   Oppositesober

   Note
5. 5
   adjectiveslang

   Having seen no birds at all on a birdwatching trip.

   Like waiting all day for a bus that never comes.

   We went home skunked after a cold morning in the marsh.

   The whole group was skunked, with not one bird in three hours.

   Similarempty-handed

   Note
6. 6
   adjective

   Describes a word or phrase whose meaning is changing, so using it may upset some readers.

   Many editors avoid the word "decimate" now because it has become skunked.

   Our teacher told us to stay away from skunked words in our essays.

   Note

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