punks

noun

plural of punk
1
as in novices
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thugs
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

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 punks This dogmatic approach to revolutionary citizenship led to the horrible treatment of any perceived as nonconformist, such as LGBTQ people, hippies or punks. — Juan Carlos Albarran, The Conversation, 13 July 2026 People don’t think of themselves as Jewish punks at this time. — Siran Babayan, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026 Theater is not for punks, okay? — Zak Cheney-Rice, Vulture, 13 May 2026 Conversely, maybe the fact that their songs, while impressively self-possessed, weren’t directly confrontational has kept them from being counted as forebears to the feminist punks who would come after. — Marissa Lorusso, Pitchfork, 3 May 2026 Music zines often had the same format, columns from semi-famous punks, interviews with up-and-coming bands, record reviews, and, always shunted to the back, zine reviews. — Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026 And everyone else was private school punks. — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026 In the greater story of resistance in Minneapolis’ streets, punks have a chapter of their own. — Evan Minsker, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2026 Directed by James Buddy Day, 40 Years of F**kin’ Up traces NOFX’s evolution from teenage punks to one of the most influential and polarising bands in modern punk history. — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punks
  1. novices
  2. thugs
  3. beginners
  4. criminals
  5. apprentices
  6. gangsters
  7. newcomers
  8. bandits
Noun
  • Haaland has become a social media phenomenon, with his own posts and memes from others turning even soccer novices into diehard fans.
    — Kaitlyn Huamani, Fortune, 13 July 2026
  • In 2026, the agency is again incentivizing participants with cash — there are separate categories for novices and professionals, each with their own prizes.
    — Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Definition of novices
Noun
  • Threatening to limit mail-in voting, adding ridiculous ID requirements, or staging thugs at polling places are other possible ways to convince you to stay home.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 July 2026
  • To be sure, the thugs of Hamas and Hezbollah committed a horrific massacre of young Jewish civilians enjoying a music festival on October 7, 2023.
    — DP Opinion, Denver Post, 6 July 2026
Definition of thugs
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the Summer Triangle — formed by Vega, Deneb and Altair — hangs almost overhead during the darkest hours, making this one of the easiest seasonal star patterns for beginners to learn.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 17 July 2026
  • Although these experiences may sound intimidating, they’re designed for beginners.
    — Katie Camero, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
Definition of beginners
Noun
  • California has some of the nation’s toughest gun laws, but state lawmakers are concerned that a new technology is allowing criminals to obtain firearms by building them from scratch.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026
  • This lengthy process was typical of ICE’s previous procedures to track down criminals, Sandweg said, which may have shifted under the demands of this administration’s daily arrest goals.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Definition of criminals
Noun
  • According to accounts by Wright’s apprentices, after procrastinating on drawing any plans for nine months, Wright designed the house in two hours in September 1935 while the Kaufmanns were driving to his office to review them.
    — Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 14 July 2026
  • According to Petrucci, 92% of construction apprentices in California are trained by a union.
    — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of apprentices
Noun
  • In each, the protagonist(s) will be sought by both police and gangsters yet will lose their own money and have to get along without any while on the run.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • In Gosha’s case, that involves getting mixed up with gangsters at a seedy nightclub, a sequence that quickly deteriorates from being mildly comical to sinister to outright terrifying by even degrees.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
Definition of gangsters
Noun
  • The difference between those projects and the 27 data centers that already exist or are being built in Miami-Dade (including three newcomers that have drawn controversy) is the size.
    — Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
  • After all, the Jayhawks’ offensive line group has multiple newcomers and there will be growing pains with a young quarterback at the helm.
    — Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
Definition of newcomers
Noun
  • Instead, most are romantic stories about young lovers separated by fate, and the rest are swashbuckling adventures full of bandits and pirates.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
  • Fantastical adventures ensue as the pair encounter a mysterious woman, Alexandra, who has lost her son, along with coyotes, bandits, and some pretty big secrets.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026
Definition of bandits

Browse Nearby Words

punk
punks
punt
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Cite this Entry

“Punks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punks. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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