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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gunk
Using a small stiff brush, clean out any gunk or debris in the screen door’s tracks.
—
Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 8 June 2026
Vacuuming to waste bypasses the pool’s filter, sending the water and gunk straight out the drain hose.
—Brad Moon, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Using a small scrub brush, scrape out any gunk that's built in your P-trap.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 21 May 2026
These quiet and efficient machines pick up gunk and grime, scrub surfaces, and keep the whole thing looking great.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for gunk
Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 8 June 2026
Vacuuming to waste bypasses the pool’s filter, sending the water and gunk straight out the drain hose.
—Brad Moon, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Using a small scrub brush, scrape out any gunk that's built in your P-trap.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 21 May 2026
These quiet and efficient machines pick up gunk and grime, scrub surfaces, and keep the whole thing looking great.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for gunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gunk
Noun
-
All of us — probably the Newsoms included — will just have to wait to see if the fine-tooth combs of the feds pick up any dirt.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
-
Body oils, dead skin, dirt, soap scum, mineral deposits, hard water stains, and mold can stick to the walls, door, grout, and floor, leaving a grimy film.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
Noun
-
France played through the rain and muck to beat Iraq 3-0 behind two goals from Kylian Mbappé.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 June 2026
-
People get mired in all kinds of muck and yuck by the slop on social media.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
If using a commercial houseplant soil, add some extra perlite and/or orchid bark to lighten it up a bit.—
Dr. Matthew Lisy,
Hartford Courant,
21 June 2026
-
Sensors give engineers more ways to see inside concrete, steel, soil and water, turning some surprise closures into repairs planned months earlier.—
Alex Krasnok,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
The 29-year-old has arrived at Rolling Stone’s office in distressed cutoff denim shorts and custom boots self-designed to look like she’s been trekking through sludge à la Kate Moss at Glastonbury 2005.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2026
-
In many cases, the blockage comes from sludge in the line, which can sometimes be cleared with a simple flush of water or with a wet/dry vac at the exterior drain outlet.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Untreated sewage is high in nitrogen and phosphorus.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
-
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper said the deaths were caused by a mixture of drought, sewage, and intense rainfall, CBS News reported at the time.—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
18 June 2026
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
Noun
-
Take Out the Trash Empty garbage bins and recycling from all rooms—not just the kitchen and bath—and don’t forget special receptacles like compost, diaper pails, and litter boxes.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 June 2026
-
In her own yard, Mingrone has learned that cracked lids on garbage containers allow water to pool after a rain, setting up a major breeding ground.—
Brenda Goodman,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gunk. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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