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
The track landed him on the Billboard Pop chart and has remained a defining track of the electro-funk and B-Boy scenes for more than 40 years. — Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 21 July 2026 Fish sauce brings the funk (the good kind) to this salad’s tangy-sweet dressing. — Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 18 July 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
  • But in the weeks since, the stench of rotting food has drifted into nearby neighborhoods.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026
  • Of the powerful smell a decomposing body produces, Ho noted the stench was noticeable down the hall from the autopsy room.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026
Definition of stench
Noun
  • In reality, the refs just do the bidding of the cowards behind the curtain.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 14 July 2026
  • That’s the sign of a true coward.
    — Maria Bamford, Vulture, 23 June 2026
Definition of coward
Verb
  • To pretend otherwise, and to accuse everyone who points to these difficult trade-offs of bad faith, is to duck a confrontation with the deepest problems of politics and policy.
    — Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • By contrast with physical products, policymakers now tend to duck difficult conversations about what to do with addictive services or experiences like gambling and video games.
    — Jonathan Caulkins, The Conversation, 17 July 2026
Definition of duck
Noun
  • The first 100 guests will receive a free two-piece chicken-leg and thigh meal — no purchase necessary, only available inside the restaurant.
    — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 22 July 2026
  • In the United States alone, at least 174 million chickens have been killed.
    — Todd Symons, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Definition of chicken
Verb
  • This basic primer avoids specific military tactics, instead offering general advice for non-military personnel.
    — Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • Saudi Arabia is getting pulled further into the Middle East conflict, conducting joint strikes with the US against Iraq this week – despite the kingdom having spent months trying to avoid deeper involvement.
    — Salma Arafa, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
Definition of avoid
Verb
  • Tankers are shunning the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, threatening a lifeline for Saudi Arabia’s crude exports during the Strait of Hormuz’s closure; Asian refiners are eyeing the one-month-longer trip through the Suez Canal.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 22 July 2026
  • Those cards originated with Pinta, who launched a campaign in 2022 to send holiday cards to people in the LGBTQ+ community who’ve been shunned by their families.
    — Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
Definition of shun
Verb
  • The case exposed serious weaknesses in financial oversight and shook public confidence in institutions responsible for protecting taxpayer dollars.
    — Malia M Cohen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2026
  • With the room shaking, the show’s producer, Bob Johnston, plotted a course toward the nearest group of guards.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
Definition of shake
Verb
  • Others edited footage of themselves dodging police barricades to mimic the popular endless runner mobile game Subway Surfers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
  • Tokyo did the same in the 1990s — dodging its banking crisis with zero rates, a weak yen, and endless bailouts, treating symptoms while the disease spread.
    — William Pesek, Forbes.com, 23 July 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 30 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on funk

Nglish: Translation of funk for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about funk

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