1
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
she plays a punk game of tennis, so you won't have any trouble beating her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in horrible
extremely unsatisfactory
the acting in the movie ranged all the way from poor to punk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sick
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body
I've been feeling punk today
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in novice
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity
an impertinent punk who was trying to tell senior colleagues how to do their jobs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
the vigilante was hailed by some as a hero for standing up to the punks who had repeatedly threatened his family
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in garbage
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
claims made by cosmetic companies about their antiaging creams that turned out to be a lot of punk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of punk
Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 26 Mar. 2024
There was no one like me in his classroom, not the oversexed women with their careful, edited looks, not the punk and post-punk kids.
—Hazlitt, 10 May 2023
Mauricio Viladegutt, SPIN, 26 Feb. 2025
The casting was diverse and inclusive, embracing a range of identities and backgrounds that reflect the true spirit of the U.K.
There was also a distinct British punk edge to many of the collections, and a sense of rebellion, of individualism, that is unmistakably part of British fashion.
—Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punk
Adjective
The group’s anarchic music was like one of those cartoon fight clouds, with punk, post-punk, industrial, goth, psychedelia, college rock, and collage rock duking it out with old EC Comics, MAD magazines, and the Lone Star proclivity toward general orneriness.
—Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 26 Mar. 2024
There was no one like me in his classroom, not the oversexed women with their careful, edited looks, not the punk and post-punk kids.
—Hazlitt, 10 May 2023
Noun
There are also a number of items from the defunct New York City punk club CBGB, which closed down in 2006, that are being auctioned off.
—Mauricio Viladegutt, SPIN, 26 Feb. 2025
The casting was diverse and inclusive, embracing a range of identities and backgrounds that reflect the true spirit of the U.K.
There was also a distinct British punk edge to many of the collections, and a sense of rebellion, of individualism, that is unmistakably part of British fashion.
—Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punk
Adjective
-
But for a lot of people following Markle's every move anything other than perfection is unacceptable.—
Alanna Bennett,
refinery29.com,
14 Mar. 2025
-
But this false choice that some are buying instead of fighting is unacceptable.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The tech giant had a horrible week, off nearly 11% in the period despite Friday’s relief bounce.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
14 Mar. 2025
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This is really happening and these horrible things are happening and that this person doesn't want to be happening.—
Patrick Gomez,
EW.com,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Nearly 95 people got sick during a norovirus outbreak on a Holland America Line ship, the cruise line’s fourth this year.—
Nathan Diller,
USA TODAY,
18 Mar. 2025
-
Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock alum Tracy Morgan caused a temporary delay at Monday night's NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat after the actor and comedian got sick in his courtside seat during the second half, and later sharing an update on his condition from a hospital bed.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Despite his impressive resume that spans two Group of Seven central banks and major investment firms, Carney is a political novice.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
15 Mar. 2025
-
Probationary employees aren't necessarily novices, though.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Jewish people in the U.S. have adopted a position of ‘support Netanyahu and his thugs irrespective of the political cost’ approach.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
14 Mar. 2025
-
The thug in the seat next to him had 14 prior arrests and went by the name of killer.—
NPR,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Lira, remembering the garbage, quickly takes out the trash.—
Cindy Carcamo,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Leave the garbage can open and place it in the sun to fully dry before closing it or putting a garbage bag in it.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The question of the night is the choice between selling out their souls to the vapid American tourists at the Tropicana nightclub (bad) or singing for their own people on the wrong side of the tracks (good).—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
20 Mar. 2025
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Bias is a problem because AI learns from past data, and if that data has mistakes or unfair patterns, AI can repeat them, leading to wrong or unfair decisions.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Since then, however, Wells Fargo has pulled back roughly 18%, as of the close on Monday, which continued a terrible recent stretch for the overall market due to economic uncertainty stemming from concern about the impact of President Donald Trump ‘s tariffs.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2025
-
The New York Yankees received terrible news on Monday regarding Gerrit Cole's injury.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punk. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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