as in stench
a strong unpleasant smell
the overpowering funk of rotten meat emanated from the garbage bin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in coward
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger
he may be a strong, athletic guy, but he's a real funk when it comes to donating blood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of funk
Jem Aswad, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
Since as early on as his second album, the underrated 2015 collection The Story of Sonny Boy Slim, Clark has embraced everything from fuzzy rock to funk to Prince-ly psychedelia.
—Joe Gross, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025
With next month’s Open Championship being held in his home nation’s Royal Portrush, McIlroy will be hoping to get himself out of this funk and back toward the top of the leaderboard.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for funk
Noun
All three are excellent musicians, but Spear is a marvel, playing with a fluid style that incorporates multiple influences, from rock to African to blues to funk to Duane Eddy twang, with an innate sense of melody that carries the entire band.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
Since as early on as his second album, the underrated 2015 collection The Story of Sonny Boy Slim, Clark has embraced everything from fuzzy rock to funk to Prince-ly psychedelia.
—Joe Gross, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
With the Yankees’ lineup sleepwalking its way through a fifth straight loss, the team will look to snap its funk on Wednesday.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025
With next month’s Open Championship being held in his home nation’s Royal Portrush, McIlroy will be hoping to get himself out of this funk and back toward the top of the leaderboard.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for funk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for funk
Verb
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Roth did not duck then and has not ducked, hedged or wavered since.—
John T. Shaw,
Twin Cities,
10 July 2025
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Once that one finished, and the racing got going, Verstappen and Piastri battled for first place – Verstappen ducking and weaving all over the track to defend his position, though ultimately Piastri passed the Red Bull driver relatively easily.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
6 July 2025
Verb
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Experts say Camp Mystic's requests to amend the FEMA map could have been an attempt to avoid the requirement to carry flood insurance, to lower the camp's insurance premiums or to pave the way for renovating or adding new structures under less costly regulations.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 July 2025
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While every Italian city is unique in its own ways, there are a couple of ways to avoid being marked as a tourist on your next trip to sample La Dolce Vita.—
Asia London Palomba,
Travel + Leisure,
12 July 2025
Verb
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To them, woke became synonymous with Cancel Culture, people being publicly shunned for their political views, and in some cases losing their career opportunities and social connections over them.—
John McDermott,
Rolling Stone,
6 July 2025
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Anti-Zionism rejects compromise, shuns a two-state solution and flattens a complex conflict to a simple morality play.—
Jason Nevarez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 July 2025
Verb
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But the humble protein powerhouse has never seemed to be able to shake the bad reputation.—
Margaux Anbouba,
Vogue,
1 July 2025
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The earth begins to shake as the animals, each one a small tank of muscle, thunder along the route at speeds of up to 20 miles an hour, scattering runners.—
Tony Perrottet,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 June 2025
Verb
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Multiple federal health officials said planning has been ongoing for the next steps of the reorganization and merger, even as Kennedy has cited the court rulings as a reason to dodge questions about the restructuring on Capitol Hill.—
Alexander Tin,
CBS News,
1 July 2025
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This game has faster, more aggressive combat that pushes the focus onto dodging rather than parrying, which should lead to some very different – and likely very difficult – combat.—
Oliver Brandt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
Verb
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Jeremiah Estrada promptly struck out Eugenio Suarez to escape that jam, and Adrián Morejón left the bases loaded the next inning with a strikeout of Marte.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 July 2025
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For more than two decades, a special team of Mexican police officers has quietly worked along the northern border to track down and deport foreign fugitives who cross into Mexico to escape criminal charges in their home countries.—
Time,
Time,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Funk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/funk. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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