gunk

noun

ˈgəŋk How to pronounce gunk (audio)
Definition of gunknext
as in dirt
foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something I have to wash my hands; I got gunk all over them somehow

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 gunk Both liken it to a Hydrafacial, apt to suck all the gunk out of your pores. — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026 The best shampoos cleanse your scalp and hair from roots to ends, freeing it from buildup and gunk without stripping the scalp of natural and vital oils. — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 16 Aug. 2026 At some point, all that will be left is the gunk at the bottom of the storage containers, and physics will prevent the oil from flowing through those critical pipelines. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026 The gunk Bondurant observed was likely didymo disturbed off the bottom of the river by people swimming and walking around. — Hannah Smith july 25, Idaho Statesman, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for gunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gunk
  1. dirt
  2. muck
  3. soil
  4. sludge
  5. sewage
  6. crud
  7. garbage
Noun
  • Where regular vacuums are made to pick up dust, dirt and pet hair, Shop-Vacs have the power to suck up nails, screws, wires, scraps of wood, metal, plastic and anything that fits inside the hose.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
  • As anyone who shops at Meadow Lane knows, Tribeca is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Manhattan, which puts it high on the list for the priciest patch of dirt anywhere.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of dirt
Noun
  • The film could have only benefited from narrowing its scope away from all the government muck, an attempt to flesh out a mythology for its villains that are scarier simply as faceless, mysterious weapons of mass destruction.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The deep muck provides a cap for the shallow aquifer, helping to clean and filter freshwater that supplies drinking water for Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and parts of Palm Beach County.
    — Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of muck
Noun
  • The vigils, which drew tens of thousands of people a year, were the only large-scale public commemoration on Chinese soil of the Tiananmen crackdown, discussion of which is heavily censored in mainland China.
    — Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 11 Sep. 2026
  • In the panicked days after the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil, New Yorkers agreed that their city had changed forever.
    — Hannah Natanson, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of soil
Noun
  • Jacobs oversees wastewater treatment, while Synagro handles sludge processing.
    — Mary Spicuzza, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • An aerial view shows houses lying deluged in sludge after flash floods at Devighat, Bidur Municipality in Nepal's Nuwakot district on August 27, 2026.
    — Sam Meredith,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of sludge
Noun
  • Temperatures are at record highs, currents are shifting and stronger storms wash more pollutants into the water, including sewage and fertilizers, which can trigger huge algae blooms.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In 2023, Rhode Island’s attorney general and environmental agency sued Woonsocket, Jacobs and Synagro, alleging the plant repeatedly discharged partially treated sewage into the nearby Blackstone River beginning in 2022.
    — Mary Spicuzza, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of sewage
Noun
  • There used to be more opportunities, in other words, to separate the wheat from the crud.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 12 June 2026
  • This isn't just unsanitary—the buildup of crud could eventually interfere with your mixer's moving parts.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
Definition of crud
Noun
  • Minutes later, another man rifled through the same pile of garbage.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The crowd revolted, showering the court with cups, beer cans and garbage.
    — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of garbage

Browse Nearby Words

gung ho
gunk
gunky
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gunk. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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