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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in terrible
extremely unsatisfactory
the acting in the movie ranged all the way from poor to punk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sick
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body
I've been feeling punk today
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of punk
Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
This is a duo of bands, linked by shared members, whose influence on post-punk, electronic music and alternative rock is widely acknowledged by musicians and critics alike.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
The listing for the award explains how Albini’s punk-rock politics led him to get an Indonesian award.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punk
Adjective
Extending beyond that sphere, there’s multifaceted alt-rock (Hayley Williams, Hammerstein Ballroom; April 9-12), evocative drone metal (Sunn O))), Town Hall; April 12), and wry post-punk (Dry Cleaning, Brooklyn Steel; May 7), for those seeking something more propulsive.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
This is a duo of bands, linked by shared members, whose influence on post-punk, electronic music and alternative rock is widely acknowledged by musicians and critics alike.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
Cameron Collins, founder of Brew Ha Ha Productions and the Punk in the Park festival, donated $225 to Trump’s 2024 campaign, triggering backlash from left-leaning punk fans.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
The listing for the award explains how Albini’s punk-rock politics led him to get an Indonesian award.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punk
Adjective
-
Ultimately, this will mean more encampments, more preventable deaths in the streets, and more individuals and families with no other option but to live in unsafe and unacceptable conditions.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Not ready for prime time Amazon’s Prime Video losing its feed in overtime of the Charlotte Hornets-Miami Heat play-in game was unacceptable for a streaming network that deems itself big time.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
If anything, great public pressure being brought to bear is a terrible reason to dispense with due-process protections designed to protect the legal rights of individuals, and crafting one exception would seem to create a precedent for crafting others.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Some members of Congress, along with airline CEOs and analysts, say the bailout would be a terrible idea.—
Donald Judd,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This animal is really, really very, very, very sick.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Cameron Collins was sick of Joe Biden.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The simple controls and hints gallery are optimized for novices, while the advanced playing modes are better suited for seasoned players.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Though shaken, the novice nurse insists on finishing her shift.—
Jennifer Obel,
Twin Cities,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
He’s beaten by thugs with a crowbar for an unfortunate outburst, exploited by neighbors in the council estate and arrested, all because people don’t understand Tourette syndrome.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Mayor vows to catch 'thugs who did this' Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards promised that law enforcement will catch the people responsible for the violence at the mall.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For example, the EV mandate would be imposed on a company like Waste Management which pays the local government a franchise fee for the exclusive right to provide garbage collection services to all the residents.—
Jon Coupal,
Oc Register,
18 Apr. 2026
-
But the temporary solution for many buildings is asking residents to fill in as volunteer cleaners, garbage schleppers, and greeters.—
Anne Kadet,
Curbed,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Perhaps the owner’s unexpected absence was an indication that the rumors about my imminent demise were wrong and that things were not so certain.—
Saïd Sayrafiezadeh,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
After a week where everything that could have gone wrong did and the noise surrounding the club threatened to swallow the team whole, the Red Sox finally broke their four-game slide in grand fashion and got to enjoy a nice, drama-free win.—
Mac Cerullo,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
On that horrible day, Dad was outside his vehicle supervising a ditch cleaning operation when a driver ignored traffic control devices, drove through a closed lane, and struck him, pinning him between two vehicles.—
Allysson Bornt,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
-
And every family has that annoying uncle that makes horrible jokes or one situation after another.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punk. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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