spunk

noun

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\ ˈspəŋk

Definition of spunk

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a woody tinder : punk

b : any of various fungi used to make tinder

2 : mettle, pluck

3 : spirit, liveliness

spunk

verb

spunked; spunking; spunks

Definition of spunk (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

dialect

: to show spirit —usually used with up

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about spunk

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Examples of spunk in a Sentence

Noun That little girl has a lot of spunk. had the spunk to overcome a severe physical disability

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun At least Eleanor Young was a villain with some spunk—and, importantly, a believable, somewhat-sympathetic backstory. — Deanna Pai, Glamour, "Netflix's Bling Empire Is a Dazzling Reality Show—But Not One I Can Identify With," 15 Jan. 2021 The Cards showed copious spunk in the second half of last season, even if their efforts didn’t always translate to the win column. — Usa Today Sports, USA TODAY, "Which NFL figures need to prove in Week 2 that first game wasn't a fluke?," 20 Sep. 2020 Along with this darkness, the director James Erskine captures Holiday’s vivacity and spunk. — New York Times, "5 Things to Do This Weekend," 3 Dec. 2020 Curious, Ginsberg and author Jack Kerouac drove to New York to meet her, impressed by her verse and her spunk. — Steve Marble, Los Angeles Times, "Diane di Prima, feminist poet and Beat generation force, dies at 86," 28 Oct. 2020 Set to launch this winter, City Cast aims to fill the void being left by traditional media—and to restore some of the spunk and personality of an older era. — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, "Can Podcasts Save Local News?," 22 Oct. 2020 Kate Walsh plays her with equal parts bubbles and spunk. — Mark Kennedy, Star Tribune, "Review: Liam Neeson is thrilless in awful 'Honest Thief'," 13 Oct. 2020 Veronica and Bailey are positioned as opposites at the outset, the latter being more of a social outcast, though with a great deal of spunk. — Washington Post, "How ‘Unpregnant,’ a movie about getting an abortion, puts a twist on the road trip comedy," 12 Sep. 2020 Texas Tech’s 2020 season starts this week against an FCS opponent with some spunk to them. — Brice Paterik, Dallas News, "5 things Texas Tech fans need to know about Houston Baptist: Prolific QB play leads the Husky offense," 9 Sep. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'spunk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.