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
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Recent Examples of punks
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
For example, in Granada, there is a community of ravers, punks, that have been there since the time of Margaret Thatcher.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 Dec. 2025
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
For example, in Granada, there is a community of ravers, punks, that have been there since the time of Margaret Thatcher.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punks
Noun
-
To make the process even easier for novices, the M2 leverages AI to detect the type of materials inserted and automatically adjust the settings for cutting, engraving, or just scoring to make thinner materials easier to flex and fold.—
Andrew Liszewski,
The Verge,
27 May 2026
-
In 2025, multiple AI developers imposed additional safeguards after internal testing revealed models could meaningfully aid novices in biological weapons development.—
Jordan Henry,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
The masked thugs deposit a tearful middle-aged woman in front of Bass, Newsom, and Harris.—
Conor Friedersdorf,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
-
White thugs destroyed it in the 1921 Race Massacre.—
Jasmine Desiree,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Zone 2 is still well-suited for beginners, older adults, and injury recovery.—
Allison Palmer
June 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
-
Nakamoto cautions against beginners trying peel-and-stick wallpaper and flooring.—
Sarah Everett,
The Spruce,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Russian athletes are routinely asked to answer for the actions of their government, yet athletes from other countries are rarely subjected to the same scrutiny or treated as though they are personally aligned with war criminals or dictators.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
-
Rafay Baloch, a cybersecurity expert and author of the book Web Hacking Arsenal, says that criminals specifically look for travelers who appear disoriented.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
For one year as well, apprentices stay protected, working with a senior employee to avoid burning out.—
Megan Shinn,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
Arthur Bryant’s and Gates Bar-B-Q, whose origins can be traced back to Henry Perry through his apprentices decades ago.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
One of the most innovative gangsters of the 20th century, Frank Lucas earned the title of Harlem drug kingpin in the late-‘60s and early-‘70s by importing high-quality heroin from Southeast Asia and selling it under the street name Blue Magic.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 June 2026
-
Sensing this once-great dynasty is in decline, the outback’s most powerful factions — rival cattle barons, desert gangsters, Indigenous elders, and billionaire miners — move in for the kill, with billions of dollars at stake.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Many of these Catholic newcomers, fleeing famine and persecution, were disparaged as poor, illiterate and superstitious.—
Matthew Smith,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
-
After the game, roughly half of the Inter Miami players, mostly newcomers and younger players, went over toward the North stands, applauded and paid tribute to La Familia.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Deportees from the United States are especially vulnerable to robbery and kidnapping because gangs and bandits assume that their families can pay larger ransoms.—
Caitlin Dickerson,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
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Joined by her hapless but loyal classmate Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay), Prue navigates a world of talking animals, bandits, and powerful figures driven by grief and ambition.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punks. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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