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
Against a backdrop of wilting flowers that left a subtle funk in the air, designer Glenn Martens once again put forth ideas that challenged conventions of beautiful clothing. — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026 Batiste and his band took to the stage right before sunset and performed a nonstop medley that put his spin on New Orleans jazz, gospel, soul, and funk. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 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
  • In the weeks after, more than 85 million pounds of rotting food being kept at the cold storage facility began to rot, leaving a putrid stench lingering over the area that led to infestations of rats, flies and other rodents.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The family lived in a company house beside a petroleum plant; Metze recalled waking as a child to the stench of kerosene.
    — Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of stench
Noun
  • There are always vultures circling, and always cowards caving.
    — Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • To me, moral cowards are those leaders around the world who refuse to sit down and negotiate a just and lasting peace.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of coward
Verb
  • During her October 2025 testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Pam Bondi repeatedly ducked questions on everything from the Epstein files to the decision to prosecute former FBI director James Comey.
    — David Wippman, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Malick Yalcouye uses his space just outside the box not to shoot but to draw Pedro Neto and Hato out before slipping a pass through to Gross, who has ducked in behind Palmer.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of duck
Noun
  • For Sunday brunch, offerings consist of chicken and waffles drizzled with maple syrup, mini frittatas, and bottomless bloody marys and mimosas.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Before going to bed, Joy leaves out a generous spread of midnight snacks packed full of chicken for the guests, who stay up late.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of chicken
Verb
  • Expecting heavy traffic on the site, the archive has outsourced the database to external servers to avoid overloading its own.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The people familiar with the discussions spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retribution from the administration.
    — Rick Maese, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of avoid
Verb
  • Although she was found not guilty the following year, Lizzie was shunned by her community after the trial and spent the rest of her life in relative isolation.
    — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The mares are now shunning poor Valentine, which Puckett hopes is only temporary.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of shun
Verb
  • The event, televised by dozens of channels across Serbia, capped a week of Vucic touring towns and villages in an apparent bid to shore up his popularity that's been shaken after almost two years of sustained anti-government protests.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Bottle tops popped, can tabs cracked, and cocktail shakers shook all day Thursday at the Aftershock music festival at Sacramento’s Discovery Park.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of shake
Verb
  • Coding a malicious program that steals private data while dodging detection by antivirus tools is hard.
    — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026
  • In the mid-70s, Stallone was a struggling actor, only landing gigs in shady erotic movies and dodging ever-piling bills, made even more pressing by the upcoming arrival of his first child.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of dodge

Browse Nearby Words

fungicides
funk
funked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Funk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/funk. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on funk

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about funk

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