funk 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈfəŋk How to pronounce funk (audio)
Definition of funknext
as in stench
a strong unpleasant smell the overpowering funk of rotten meat emanated from the garbage bin

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

funk

2 of 3

noun (2)

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

funk

3 of 3

verb

as in to duck

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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
Noun
One of them is Electric Piquete, the veteran Miami band full of Latin jazz-funk grooves and poetry. — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2026 Their sound was described as a hybrid mixing elements of rock, blues and funk into a steaming-hot Houston stew. — CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
This public artwork and its function — as in, this party and the space’s purpose — feels like a mirror, a temple to self, a shrine to funk, a dedication and invitation to experience what is still so divine and aspirational about the present moment. — Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026 Music fans are still mourning the death of legendary singer D’Angelo and lauding how the vastness of his musical experiences, from gospel to funk to soul, permeates his catalog. — Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for funk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for funk
  1. stench
  2. coward
  3. duck
  4. chicken
  5. avoid
  6. shun
  7. shake
  8. dodge
Noun
  • After the smoke subsided, residents reported feeling effects from the stench of rotting meat and food from the warehouse interior, where it had been stored frozen on tall racks that were hundreds of feet across.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Cleanup efforts, meanwhile, were continuing at the Lineage Logistics food-storage warehouse following the massive June 17 fire, with the stench of rotting food and pest problems disrupting the surrounding neighborhood, according to reports.
    — City News Service, Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of stench
Noun
  • If your team didn’t hand out $700 million IOUs deferred until the next century, your owner was just a cheap coward.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Corey Graves was much more talkative this time around, lambasting Big Cass as a coward while supporting Evans.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of coward
Verb
  • Store employees are seen ducking for cover as more shots are fired.
    — Aziza Shuler, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Massey apologized and ducked behind a kitchen counter before Grayson fired three times.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of duck
Noun
  • Served on a bed of jasmine rice, the bowl includes chicken tinga — a Mexican dish in which the chicken is shredded and simmered in a smoky, slightly spicy red sauce — roasted corn salsa, pico de gallo, avocado crema and sliced jalapeños.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Adobos, whether with three chiles or the lone suave guajillo chile, become life-giving purees for marinated fish, chicken and beef shank.
    — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of chicken
Verb
  • But Beijing has also sought to avoid domestic fuel shortages by limiting its own fuel exports.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Seven-nine percent said to avoid a ticket, 72 percent said to avoid a crash, and 60 percent said because of bad weather, according to the research.
    — Doug Myers, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of avoid
Verb
  • While in prison, Shah became besties with Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes while shunning Ghislaine Maxwell.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Alamy Most Popular Long said to bring ruin on the male rulers who owned it, the Koh-i-Noor has also been shunned by female royals in recent decades.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of shun
Verb
  • Miami likely will hold off on signing a 15th player to a standard contract, at least for now, in order to see who shakes free in the buyout market.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026
  • For some, fall fashion starts with color, working in warm browns and flashes of crimson red or shaking typical neutrals up with pops of cobalt blue.
    — Minty Mellon, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of shake
Verb
  • Building on site can dodge that queue, which is much of its appeal and why counting transformers beats counting chips as a way to read this buildout.
    — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • West Orange dodges a huge bullet as Hoban’s John Johnson drops a wide open pass that would’ve been an 80 yard touchdown.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of dodge

Browse Nearby Words

fungicides
funk
funked
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Cite this Entry

“Funk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/funk. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on funk

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about funk

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