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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of funk
George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Give one of these shows the opportunity to pull you out of a funk.
—Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Apr. 2026
Spin Contributor, SPIN, 20 Dec. 2024
But Minchin and Alcock are an electric duo, their bristling anti-chemistry transmuting their characters’ respective funks from mostly unwatchable to genuinely compelling.
—Alexis Gunderson, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for funk
Noun
Deftly drawing from folk, soul, blues, funk and country, Armatrading sings of love lost, won and desired, heady aspirations and quiet desperation, in a deep, richly moving voice.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Give one of these shows the opportunity to pull you out of a funk.
—Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
And there’s always more rising DIY stars on the horizon, ranging from rock to funk to pop to neo-soul.
—Spin Contributor, SPIN, 20 Dec. 2024
But Minchin and Alcock are an electric duo, their bristling anti-chemistry transmuting their characters’ respective funks from mostly unwatchable to genuinely compelling.
—Alexis Gunderson, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for funk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for funk
Verb
-
Of the five live roaches spotted, one was crawling on a handwash sink inside the kitchen and two ducked under a coffee machine nearby.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Republicans broadly supported the administration's military action in Iran, but most GOP incumbents in competitive races have noticeably ducked addressing rising gas prices while defending the war itself.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Yankees will look to avoid its first series sweep Sunday with Cam Schlittler on the mound against Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The troop carrier planes became bogged down in the soil and had to be destroyed by the US to avoid them falling into enemy hands, while new planes were flown in.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Stalwarts such as Chicago and Philadelphia (each +4%) that never got pricey to begin with are now reaping the benefits of being shunned in the pre-pandemic world.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Xi’s outreach to Cheng came along with overt swipes at Taiwan’s current government under President Lai Ching-te, who is shunned by Beijing as a dangerous ‘separatist’ for rejecting China’s claim that Taiwan is its territory.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The boom could be loud enough to shake windows in some areas.—
Jayne Yutig,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The group composes its own sacred music, lilting songs that prompt women in green-and-white wraparounds to vigorously shake their bodies.—
Rodney Muhumuza,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If someone dodges details, slow down and repeat the key request.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
-
However, the Royals appear to have dodged an injury scare.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the third inning Rocker was faced with runners on the corners with Spencer Steer up to bat with two outs, and Rocker retired the left fielder in three pitches, ending with a ground out to third base to escape the inning with no damage.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Angels reliever Chase Silseth escaped a two-on, no-out jam in the seventh.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Funk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/funk. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
