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

Relevance

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
Max Muncy added a three-run homer as the Dodgers found the perfect way to break out of their recent funk — playing at hitter friendly Coors Field. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026 Band members, who love blues, jazz, soul, funk and R&B began as a backing band and live karaoke band for other performers but eventually became a main act. — Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 17 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
  • The masked person, carrying a distinctive blue plaid backpack, was last seen ducking into SEPTA’s Suburban Station.
    — Madison Lambert, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2026
  • An aftershock that struck during an interview Tuesday prompted Vincentius Rano and his wife to instinctively duck and cover their heads.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of duck
Noun
  • Now, McDonald’s is betting on fancier chicken and airer restaurants to draw back diners.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Customers can choose between four breakfast taco options – bacon, egg and cheese; sausage, egg and cheese; chicken sausage, egg and cheese; or ham, egg and cheese.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 18 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
  • First, Murdock recognized the Falcons setting up a screen and then shook off a block attempt by the pulling center and dropped running back Tyler Goodson for no gain.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • In quiet spaces, cues on whether the ground is shaking are distorted by our expectations.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Funk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/funk. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on funk

Nglish: Translation of funk for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about funk

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of prowess

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All