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gunk

noun

ˈgəŋk How to pronounce gunk (audio)
Definition of gunknext
as in dirt
foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something I have to wash my hands; I got gunk all over them somehow

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 gunk If the nozzle is clogged, Murahwa suggests using a toothpick to gently pick out whatever gunk is clogging it. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 20 Aug. 2026 Both liken it to a Hydrafacial, apt to suck all the gunk out of your pores. — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026 The best shampoos cleanse your scalp and hair from roots to ends, freeing it from buildup and gunk without stripping the scalp of natural and vital oils. — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 16 Aug. 2026 At some point, all that will be left is the gunk at the bottom of the storage containers, and physics will prevent the oil from flowing through those critical pipelines. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gunk
  1. dirt
  2. muck
  3. soil
  4. sludge
  5. sewage
  6. crud
  7. garbage
Noun
  • Dyson is hardly a stranger to powerful cleaning gear, and taking $100 off makes this one much easier to consider if your current vacuum, or even your trusty Roomba, is losing the daily argument with fur, crumbs, and dirt.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Grab the corners and shake off any loose crumbs, dirt, hair, dust, and debris.
    — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of dirt
Noun
  • The film could have only benefited from narrowing its scope away from all the government muck, an attempt to flesh out a mythology for its villains that are scarier simply as faceless, mysterious weapons of mass destruction.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The deep muck provides a cap for the shallow aquifer, helping to clean and filter freshwater that supplies drinking water for Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and parts of Palm Beach County.
    — Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of muck
Noun
  • The text of the agreement, which has been released publicly by the administration, establishes a joint study between the two countries on the feasibility of an enrichment facility on Saudi Arabian soil.
    — Chris Boccia, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • If your home uses a septic system, wastewater flows into a tank and filters through soil.
    — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of soil
Noun
  • The United States is losing to one of its worst enemies in a war that has left the American economy mired in the sludge of growing inflation and rising energy prices.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Crazy picked the bowl up and chugged down the salty, yellow sludge.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of sludge
Noun
  • Visitor arrivals surged while sewage infrastructure failed to keep pace.
    — Thomas Despin, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Temperatures are at record highs, currents are shifting and stronger storms wash more pollutants into the water, including sewage and fertilizers, which can trigger huge algae blooms.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of sewage
Noun
  • There used to be more opportunities, in other words, to separate the wheat from the crud.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 12 June 2026
  • This isn't just unsanitary—the buildup of crud could eventually interfere with your mixer's moving parts.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
Definition of crud
Noun
  • Remove food that attracts wild animals by keeping garbage in closed, secure containers.
    — Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The only people who spoke up for this garbage were the people who put it together.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of garbage

Browse Nearby Words

gung ho
gunk
gunky
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gunk. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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