1
as in cheese
that which is of low quality or worth
couldn't believe that such junk was chosen to be read for the book club my car is junk—it spends more time in the shop than on the road
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in garbage
discarded or useless material
junk on the side of the road waiting for the trash collection
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to dump
to get rid of as useless or unwanted
we'll have to junk this old car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of junk
Sarah Owermohle, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
Skip the junk drawer and move tools, lightbulbs, and hardware to a utility space or toolbox.
—Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 17 June 2025
J. Tedford Tyler, Time, 17 May 2025
The local hockey team made every move this season to win a Stanley Cup, from junking its goalies to shipping out a star to overhauling the entire middle of the ice.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for junk
Noun
Related article Kennedy’s HHS sent Congress ‘junk science’ to defend vaccine changes, experts say
The committee is scheduled to meet June 25 to discuss vaccines for Covid-19, cytomegalovirus, HPV, flu and other diseases.
—Sarah Owermohle, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
Skip the junk drawer and move tools, lightbulbs, and hardware to a utility space or toolbox.
—Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 17 June 2025
Verb
That would be a drastic shift, but Trump has shown a willingness to junk political orthodoxy, as this week’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria and meet Ahmed el-Sharaa showed.
—J. Tedford Tyler, Time, 17 May 2025
The local hockey team made every move this season to win a Stanley Cup, from junking its goalies to shipping out a star to overhauling the entire middle of the ice.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for junk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for junk
Noun
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Year-round, Main Street and Brown Street are occupied by specialty shops selling everything from cheese and ice cream to pottery, children’s toys, gourmet kitchen goods, and beach-friendly clothing.—
Bob Curley,
AFAR Media,
8 July 2025
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Beyond the spicy breakfast menu items, the company will also introduce new meal deal options on July 22, introducing the Daily Double, a burger with two beef patties and a slice of American cheese plus shredded lettuce, slivered onions, mayo, and two tomato slices.—
Chris Morris,
Fortune,
8 July 2025
Noun
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Wasps are also scavengers, and they can often be found flying around garbage bins looking for their next meal.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 July 2025
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Folsom 4th of July garbage schedule For those living in Folsom, trash and waste pickup will continue as scheduled, according to the city’s website.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
Updated July 2,
Sacbee.com,
2 July 2025
Verb
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Or, excuse me, that should read Lily’s dancer boyfriend, Diego, dumped her and her subsequent breakdown is one more thing for Charlotte to worry about.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
11 July 2025
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The sand, pre-washed and compacted upon arrival, was dumped into an 18-inch wooden frame, with elements such as hospitality added to help remove debris from the air.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 July 2025
Noun
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North Korea has responded to previous balloon campaigns with fiery rhetoric and other shows of anger, and last year the country launched its own balloons across the border, dumping rubbish on various South Korean sites, including the presidential compound.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
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They were were found beneath a pile of rubbish heaped just inside her front door, according to a police report released Wednesday.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2025
Noun
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The night of the fire, firework debris ignited the area of the home’s exterior rear porch, said Independence Fire Chief Jimmy Walker.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 July 2025
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The self-emptying autowash dock can hold up to 74 days of auto-emptying vacuum debris and four weeks of mopping and pad washing.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 July 2025
Verb
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Spanning over three decades, Syed’s work features discarded, everyday materials that are then woven into striking pieces.—
Sonya Rehman,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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The bill also discards the education requirement so the governor could appoint a Secretary of Education with no education experience.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2025
Noun
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But despite the state’s best efforts to educate citizens on the importance of removing bird feeders, trash and food from yards, human-bear interactions continue to rise, showcasing a growing concern that bears are becoming less afraid of humans.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
30 June 2025
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On trash pickup days, cans should be set out the morning of, not the night before, officials said.—
Helena Wegner,
Idaho Statesman,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Multiple attachments also come with your purchase (a crevice tool and a pet multi tool), which help to tackle dust in hard-to-reach areas in your home.—
Izzy Baskette,
People.com,
5 July 2025
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Wildfires, blowing dust and ozone are all sources of dangerous air pollution that can trigger breathing difficulties and other health issues.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 July 2025
Video
Some Odd Words with ISMO: "Junk in the Trunk"
Comedian ISMO on what separates a boot from a trunk
Cite this Entry
“Junk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/junk. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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