1
as in novices
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity
an impertinent punk who was trying to tell senior colleagues how to do their jobs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thugs
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
the vigilante was hailed by some as a hero for standing up to the punks who had repeatedly threatened his family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of punks
The Cuckoo’s Nest/Zubie’s parking lot in Costa Mesa became ground zero for clashes between punks and cowboys.
—
Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 31 Aug. 2025
Their wild, psychedelic shows became a notorious rite of passage for punks and innocent civilians across the nation—Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love allegedly met at a Buttholes show in Seattle in 1991.
—Pat Blashill, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
My dad used to hang out with the punks in Montreal in the 70s.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 31 Aug. 2025
Their wild, psychedelic shows became a notorious rite of passage for punks and innocent civilians across the nation—Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love allegedly met at a Buttholes show in Seattle in 1991.
—Pat Blashill, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
My dad used to hang out with the punks in Montreal in the 70s.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punks
Noun
-
Instructors are on hand to teach novices.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
-
For seasoned cooks and kitchen novices, cookbook author and nutritionist Robin Miller takes it back to basics with great, family-friendly recipes worth making over and over again.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Their neighbor, an older Jewish woman, gets arrested and Nazi thugs brazenly loot her apartment.—
Rabih Alameddine
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
-
As night falls, armed thugs roam the streets and families pick up guns to protect themselves.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Admire the sparkling water and salt marshes on courses designed by top architects for everyone from beginners to avid enthusiasts.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
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Resembling a minnow near the surface of the water, these rental boats come with easy instructions for beginners who are unfamiliar with how to operate the canal’s lock system along the way.—
Jason Mastrodonato,
Mercury News,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Lawmakers in many states have changed the rules in recent decades to protect winners from being targeted by criminals and unscrupulous people asking for money.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
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Her Eco-Age consultancy, targeted by criminals and forced to close in 2024 after 17 years in business, had advised clients on industry developments, changes to government policies and practical guidance on how to avoid greenwashing.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Across the city, Guerin teaches young people, apprentices aspiring farmers and trains adults in the field of sustainable agriculture.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
2 Sep. 2025
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William Alexander’s adult SF debut grew out of a short story featured in The Sunday Morning Transport, about planetary courier Tova Lir and Agatha Panza von Sparkles, one of her baby bot apprentices—functionally, her foster children.—
Natalie Zutter
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Others are new, building on a genuinely fresh and funny revelation that explains not only a cold open involving yakuza gangsters half a world away in Osaka, but also why this quaint town is sitting on a stash of weaponry big enough to overthrow the governments of several small nations.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
9 Sep. 2025
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Inspired by the colonial Singapore gangsters rulers, four girls, at a modern-day regimented elite secondary school form their own gang cam-recording petty acts of rebellion, led by firebrand freethinking lesbian Choo Xin Yu.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But even the latest from one of the most exciting newcomers in pop can’t outpace what has turned out to be one of the biggest breakout hits of 2025.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers will be one of its newcomers after signing a three-year deal with the league in April.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Over $200 Off NFL Sunday Ticket NFL fans can make out like bandits with the DraftKings Sportsbook welcome offer.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern were cast as the bumbling but dogged bandits, Harry and Marv, and Catherine O’Hara brought humor and compassion to the part of Kevin’s mother.—
Tim Greiving,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punks. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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