as in courage
the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship
had the spunk to overcome a severe physical disability
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spunk
Think of Usher’s costume-leaning spunk, Erykah Badu’s eccentricity, Teyana Taylor’s punk sensibility, Lauryn Hill’s just-go-for-it attitude, and Gunna who is experimental at times.
—
Julian Randall, Essence, 12 Mar. 2025
At the same time, fresh ideas emerging from young professionals light up communication strategies with spunk and vitality.
—Deepa Nagraj, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
The winners likewise offered less spark and spunk than in many of the Oscars' best years.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
Forever proud of her Irish heritage that provided her with spunk and beauty.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spunk
Julian Randall, Essence, 12 Mar. 2025
At the same time, fresh ideas emerging from young professionals light up communication strategies with spunk and vitality.
—Deepa Nagraj, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
The winners likewise offered less spark and spunk than in many of the Oscars' best years.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
Forever proud of her Irish heritage that provided her with spunk and beauty.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spunk
Noun
-
Ethical Memory Vault: A secure story engine that records acts of moral courage—feeding these back into leadership training, AI models and onboarding systems.—
Shekar Natarajan,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
Hutchins later credited Jenner with giving her the courage to make the same transition.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
This formula strikes the perfect balance between grit and hydration—natural sea salt boosts volume and definition, while moringa seed oil helps lock in moisture and adds a healthy sheen to curls and waves.—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
30 June 2025
-
Fatigue is reframed as grit, while emotional exhaustion is labeled as discipline, and recovery is viewed as optional.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Noun
-
Palencia’s ability to lock in after hitting Contreras showed his self-confidence and mental fortitude not to let the game spiral after the heated exchange.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
26 June 2025
-
Belief is a cornerstone of the Williams family and the eldest son, as a result, developed mental fortitude early.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
Her bravery, poise, and care are an example to not only her campers but to all of us.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
7 July 2025
-
For her bravery, she was later honored as Righteous Among the Nations.—
Linda Ambrus Broenniman,
Baltimore Sun,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
There’s one main meter, hydration, where the hot desert will deplete that over time, sapping your stamina and eventually your health.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
-
But stamina, recovery, resilience and adaptability are as essential to athletic performance.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
The network of community leaders and officials all questioned the administration’s determination that Haiti is now safe enough for people to return.—
Churchill Ndonwie,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2025
-
The increasingly obvious awfulness of Dave’s book gives Smollett some great reaction work amid all Michelle’s pained determination.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spunk. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share