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

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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 Neurons, firing hundreds of times per second, get clogged with their own gunk—and the accumulation of that gunk is what triggers the need to sleep. — Literary Hub, 17 June 2026 Plus, the liner is easy to de-gunk after trips with soap and water (or a good hose-down). — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026 At a time when the Earth was bare, when there were no vertebrates, no trees, no leaves, no flowering plants, and no plants with seeds, millipedes were feeding on decaying mosses, decomposed slime, and primordial gunk. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026 Using a small stiff brush, clean out any gunk or debris in the screen door’s tracks. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 8 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
  • That one feature has taken Volkwine’s crew more than five months of moving dirt, laying rebar and concrete and hand-shaping every line in the smooth surface that untold numbers of skaters and bikers will use starting this fall.
    — Noah Daly July 31, Idaho Statesman, 31 July 2026
  • All that spectacle is unmatched in American and in global Thoroughbred racing on dirt, and to varying degrees all of it freaks out each and every horse that runs in it.
    — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of dirt
Noun
  • Once more than 20 feet deep in some areas, Lake Jesup today is barely six feet deep as muck and other debris have accumulated on the bottom.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026
  • Yes, Nolan’s tendency to make the sound editing a bit murky or a bit too loud at times while the dialogue sinks into the sonic muck, all these things are true here.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of muck
Noun
  • In its simplest form, scientists can put a chunk of soil in a mason jar, measure how much gas is released over time, then extrapolate a total figure.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Electronics and small appliances contain chemicals such as lead and mercury that could contaminate landfill soil and groundwater.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 July 2026
Definition of soil
Noun
  • But the real key to the magic is that frenetic tone — the dirty, grungy, previously unheard sludge created when guitarist/Ray’s brother Dave Davies slashed his amp’s speaker with a razor.
    — Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
  • Inline water filters can be installed and are widely used to trap dirt, debris, and sludge.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 3 July 2026
Definition of sludge
Noun
  • Concerns over raw sewage Gottlieb said weather conditions had raised the risk of contamination.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
  • Rubbish bags pile up on corners, and raw sewage runs through the potholed streets.
    — Julie Bourdin, Christian Science Monitor, 28 July 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
  • Garbage in, garbage out has never been more true or more expensive.
    — Vaibhav Gujral, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Avoid feeding your dog high-fat foods, including table scraps, and prevent them from getting into garbage.
    — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2026
Definition of garbage

Browse Nearby Words

gung ho
gunk
gunky
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Cite this Entry

“Gunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gunk. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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