Synonyms of punk

punk 1 of 2

adjective

1

as in unacceptable

falling short of a standard

she plays a punk game of tennis, so you won't have any trouble beating her

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unacceptable
• wrong
• lame
• poor
• bastard
• bad
• deficient
• pathetic
• sour
• brutal
• horrible
• flawed
• terrible
• awful
• disastrous
• wanting
• bush
• wretched
• off
• inferior
• crummy
• ill
• from hunger
• lacking
• unsatisfactory
• wack
• dreadful
• substandard
• rotten
• bush-league
• suboptimal
• lousy
• subpar
• defective
• inadequate
• dissatisfactory
• stinky
• below par
• paltry
• short
• bum
• gnarly
• gross
• useless
• worthless
• miserable
• lesser
• unspeakable
• detestable
• vile
• damnable
• trashy
• low-rent
• insufficient
• deplorable
• flagrant
• faulty
• sleazy
• common
• low-grade
• cheesy
• atrocious
• execrable
• egregious
• coarse
• abysmal
• mediocre
• horrendous
• sucky
• crappy
• second-rate
• bitchin'
• abominable
• shoddy
• reprehensible
• odious
• shabby
• junky
• villainous
• valueless
• mean
• skimpy
• scurrilous
• fake
• spare
• miscreant
• rubbishy
• scanty
• miserly
• phony
• cut-rate
• counterfeit
• meager
• stingy
• sham
• skimp

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• standard
• classical
• acceptable
• classic
• fine
• adequate
• all right
• satisfactory
• respectable
• decent
• great
• OK
• tolerable
• better
• passable
• prime
• perfect
• superior
• divine
• excellent
• grand
• top
• special
• noble
• mean
• dandy
• slick
• wonderful
• banner
• sensational
• neat
• splendid
• capital
• terrific
• sterling
• boss
• stellar
• premium
• par excellence
• choice
• average
• first-class
• heavenly
• swell
• fabulous
• superlative
• sufficient
• superb
• keen
• minimal
• marvelous
• fancy
• groovy
• exceptional
• nifty
• A1
• unsurpassed
• borderline
• fair
• high-grade
• worthy
• useful
• suitable
• mediocre
• first-rate
• middling
• high-test
• supernal
• crackerjack
• top-notch
• bang-up
• jim-dandy
• tip-top
• satisfying
• gratifying
• unexceptional
• so-so

2

as in terrible

extremely unsatisfactory

the acting in the movie ranged all the way from poor to punk

Synonyms & Similar Words

• terrible
• horrible
• poor
• rotten
• awful
• bad
• dismal
• wretched
• atrocious
• lousy
• sucky
• abysmal
• defective
• execrable
• flawed
• wanting
• bum
• off
• inadequate
• contemptible
• inferior
• shameful
• lacking
• substandard
• deficient
• miserable
• worthless
• faulty
• low-grade
• useless
• insufficient
• mediocre
• reprehensible
• vile
• valueless
• damnable
• second-rate
• abominable
• odious
• fiendish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• great
• wonderful
• prime
• superior
• excellent
• marvelous
• bitchin'
• premium
• exceptional
• choice
• first-class
• adequate
• sufficient
• first-rate
• acceptable
• satisfactory

3

as in sick

temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body

I've been feeling punk today

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sick
• bad
• poorly
• down
• ill
• under the weather
• out of sorts
• unhealthy
• ailing
• weak
• unwell
• dizzy
• peaky
• shaky
• peaked
• unsound
• run-down
• troubled
• sickened
• indisposed
• seedy
• symptomatic
• fragile
• disabled
• sickish
• diseased
• cruddy
• woozy
• squeamish
• feeble
• lousy
• decrepit
• disordered
• frail
• queasy
• feverish
• seasick
• nauseous
• weakly
• sickly
• nauseated
• qualmish
• hypochondriacal
• infirm
• achy
• afflicted
• airsick
• invalid
• hypochondriac
• incapacitated
• debilitated
• carsick
• light-headed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• whole
• sound
• well
• healthy
• wholesome
• healthful
• hale
• better
• fit
• conditioned
• cured
• able-bodied
• recovering
• tough
• strong
• hardy
• lusty
• stalwart
• improved
• hearty
• rugged
• mending
• robust
• well-conditioned
• flourishing
• thriving
• bouncing
• chipper
• flush
• blooming
• rehabilitated
• recuperating
• convalescing

punk

2 of 2

noun

ˈpəŋk 

1

as in novice

a person who is just starting out in a field of activity

an impertinent punk who was trying to tell senior colleagues how to do their jobs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• novice
• beginner
• apprentice
• rookie
• newcomer
• freshman
• virgin
• fledgling
• newbie
• student
• greenhorn
• neophyte
• colt
• recruit
• tyro
• cub
• rook
• babe
• tenderfoot
• novitiate
• boot
• amateur
• abecedarian
• dabbler
• dilettante
• candidate
• learner
• trainee
• entrant
• probationer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• veteran
• vet
• master
• pro
• expert
• old hand
• professional
• old-timer

2

as in thug

a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang

the vigilante was hailed by some as a hero for standing up to the punks who had repeatedly threatened his family

Synonyms & Similar Words

• thug
• criminal
• gangster
• villain
• bandit
• pirate
• assassin
• hooligan
• hoodlum
• thief
• gangsta
• offender
• ruffian
• mobster
• gangbanger
• tough
• rowdy
• hood
• gorilla
• roughneck
• bully
• goon
• yob
• toughie
• yobbo
• plug-ugly
• perpetrator
• outlaw
• scoundrel
• cutthroat
• robber
• felon
• brigand
• mafioso
• desperado
• mug
• vandal
• perp
• highwayman
• lawbreaker
• crook
• racketeer
• gunman
• pickpocket
• swindler
• malefactor
• juvenile delinquent
• bravo
• tearaway

3

as in garbage

language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense

claims made by cosmetic companies about their antiaging creams that turned out to be a lot of punk

Synonyms & Similar Words

• garbage
• nonsense
• nuts
• jazz
• stupidity
• rubbish
• blah
• silliness
• drool
• trash
• craziness
• muck
• absurdity
• insanity
• bunk
• beans
• foolishness
• rot
• madness
• baloney
• fiddle
• claptrap
• absurdness
• guff
• twaddle
• bull
• bilge
• crock
• humbuggery
• hokum
• balderdash
• fudge
• flapdoodle
• trumpery
• fiddlesticks
• blatherskite
• malarkey
• tommyrot
• blither
• tosh
• piffle
• bosh
• hogwash
• drivel
• folderol
• hokeypokey
• horsefeathers
• bunkum
• nerts
• blather
• hooey
• hoodoo
• fiddle-faddle
• applesauce
• poppycock
• flannel
• taradiddle
• blarney
• codswallop
• folly
• crapola
• moonshine
• idiocy
• senselessness
• humbug
• kookiness
• slush
• greek
• gas
• foolery
• imbecility
• tomfoolery
• lunacy
• inanity
• monkey business
• inaneness
• witlessness
• asininity
• fatuity
• hot air
• rigmarole
• hoity-toity
• monkeyshine(s)
• shenanigan(s)
• hocus-pocus
• double-talk

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rationality
• reasonableness
• sense
• common sense
• horse sense
• sensibleness
• levelheadedness
• judgment
• reasonability
• wisdom
• discernment

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of punk

Adjective

English post-punk band is anchored by lead vocalist John Lydon. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026

The Clash’s original line-up soldiered on until 1982, by which time punk rock had mutated into post-punk and new wave. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 23 Aug. 2026

Noun

The Last Days of Gomorrah, for instance, was shot in shopping malls, and boasts a punk look. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Meanwhile, Evanescence will bring its signature blend of hard rock and gothic atmosphere to the stage, while The Offspring will bring forth its punk-rock discography to the mix. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026