GUNKY Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

gunky

adjective

as in grimy

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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 gunky Gentle, but effective cleanser Between sweat, sunscreen, makeup, dirt, and more, your face can often turn into a gunky mess when traveling. — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2026 One commenter mentioned that the gunky conditions were reminiscent of a river in Colorado overrun by didymo, an algae that can form thick mats, making the water unpleasant for fish, animals and people. — Hannah Smith july 25, Idaho Statesman, 25 July 2026 America was built on a thick, gunky crude that comes from other countries including Canada, Saudi Arabia and Central and South American nations. — Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 9 Mar. 2026 But the gunky fascinations of the text remain intact. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gunky

Adjective

His comments illustrated the unique burden of the hip-hop superstar, straining to stay in touch with the grimy realism of his earliest rhymes.

— Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Vancouver, for all its celebrity hangouts and major studio and streamer film shoots, is also home to a grimy downtown eastside neighborhood where getting off addictions and out of homelessness for many remains a constant struggle.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of grimy

Adjective

Raman has promised to speed up housing construction, bring back entertainment industry jobs and improve services in a city known for filthy streets, gridlock and an unresponsive City Hall.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
Jurors heard testimony from three of Alsheikh’s victims who said they were packed into small, filthy, cold, wet cells that were infested with insects and other vermin.

— Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of filthy

Adjective

Set your iron to its lowest setting—no steam—and place the stained area between two paper towels or lint-free cloths.

— Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026
Pushing those briars aside revealed a single splinter of stained glass, bright as a ruby and warm as blood.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of stained

Adjective

One named Jackie marvels at nothing in particular on a grubby London street.

— Lauren Jackson, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
First arriving as a major player on the political scene in 2024, Big Crypto—led by firms like Coinbase and Ripple—has immersed itself in all the grubby ways of Washington.

— Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of grubby

Adjective

Wise’s wistful songwriting is retained, but completely missing is his intentionally impure palette.

— Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 7 Mar. 2026
Kanto practitioners believe that women cannot participate because, according to Japan's Shinto religion, women's blood from menstruation and childbirth is considered impure for the purpose of religious rituals.

— Anthony Kuhn, NPR, 3 Nov. 2025

Definition of impure

Adjective

The mop head was stored directly inside the mop bucket, soiled and wet, and not in use.

— Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado July 24, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026
Let the cleaner sit for 15 minutes and blot the excess, or cover it with a damp cloth and leave it for up to 24 hours for heavily soiled or old, set-in spots.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 June 2026

Definition of soiled

Adjective

The record does include songs in the gentle, intimate mode of her earlier work, but even those are sometimes laced with grungy guitar lines.

— Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
Each strap wrapped around the shaft of her boots, imparting a grungy effect.

— Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of grungy

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gunk

gunky

gunman

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“Gunky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gunky. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of gunky

adjective

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