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 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 Vacuum the spot to remove any excess gunk to make any further treatment more effective and prevent as much muck from actually leaving a stain in the first place. — Bridget Reed Morawski, Architectural Digest, 17 July 2026 Your pores might be congested with gunk or product residue, so double-cleansing can make all the difference. — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 23 June 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
  • Vibram is targeting the territory between road and trail with an outsole compound designed for runners whose routes move across pavement, dirt, gravel and light trails.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Prepare the surface Remove any excess debris and dirt by sweeping the surface.
    — Abid Haque, Architectural Digest, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of dirt
Noun
  • Mops of ghostly streamers, some of them longer than my arm, were waving like tentacles atop layers of black muck.
    — James Dinneen, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Even when House of the Dragon is at its best, the prophecy skitters in to make a muck of things.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of muck
Noun
  • The first North Korean deployment began in the Kursk region in October 2024, to repel a Ukrainian incursion, the first on Russian soil since the Nazis.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Not a marathon, but a sprint In places such as Florida, where the sun shines for most of the year and soils are rich in nutrients, size and beauty come easily.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of soil
Noun
  • Currently, the Louisiana sludge metal band has been busy headlining arenas across North America and opening stadiums in the UK and Europe for the likes of System of a Down and Queens Of The Stone Age.
    — Quentin Thane Singer, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The ball rolled to the sticky floor, littered with crushed six-pack carriers and a fine layer of winter sludge, and two competitors dove to fetch it.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of sludge
Noun
  • Utility crews are working to shore up main pipes that carry sewage 8-10 feet below the original creek bed.
    — John Tufts, IndyStar, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Untreated sewage, industrial waste and debris from Mexico into the Tijuana River and southern San Diego has exposed thousands of San Diego residents to contaminated air and water.
    — Samhita M Ilango, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Aug. 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
  • Most conflicts between humans and bears are traced back to human food, garbage, pet food, bird seed, or other things that attract bears.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Occupants of a residence on the 1400 block of 104th Avenue were angry at the auto body shop for parking lots of cars outside, loud noises and excessive garbage.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 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 23 Aug. 2026.

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