gunk

noun

ˈgəŋk 

: filthy, sticky, or greasy matter

gunky

ˈgəŋ-kē 

adjective

Synonyms of gunk

• dirt
• muck
• soil
• sludge
• sewage
• crud
• garbage

Examples of gunk in a Sentence

The engine was all full of gunk.

I need to wipe this gunk off my hands.

Recent Examples on the Web

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

What you’re left with is a mass of sticky gunk which slowly thickens and then dries out, creating what the expert says is a rock-solid clog. — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 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

Word History

Etymology

from Gunk, trademark for a cleaning solvent

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gunk

• gunk up