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
Relevance
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 willful overreach is more or less business as usual for Albarn and his old housemate Hewlett, who, by conceiving this cartoon combo of multiracial punks in 1998, advanced a vision of pop hybridity that anticipated our age of cultural superabundance.
—
Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
The writer, perhaps best known for his best-selling Something is Killing the Children, is teaming up with Marguerite Bennett for Odin, a new original horror comic book series that sees neo-Nazi punks face ancient Norse beings.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 19 Feb. 2026
This decade alone, the same South Minneapolis punks currently protesting in the streets lived through the uprising around George Floyd’s murder and the Nudieland punk house shooting, which resulted in multiple injuries and the death of August Golden.
—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
All these young punks and musical savants appearing under the repressive atmosphere of the academy may require some suspension of disbelief (as does Lilisa’s gravity-defying hair).
—Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
The lower-cut model was designed for factory floors and workshops but was quickly adopted by punks and other subcultures.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 25 Nov. 2025
Berghaus embraced the punks and ravers, recognizing in them a version of the subversive spirit that drives the very best alpinists.
—Jeff Moag, Outside, 24 Nov. 2025
Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
The writer, perhaps best known for his best-selling Something is Killing the Children, is teaming up with Marguerite Bennett for Odin, a new original horror comic book series that sees neo-Nazi punks face ancient Norse beings.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 19 Feb. 2026
This decade alone, the same South Minneapolis punks currently protesting in the streets lived through the uprising around George Floyd’s murder and the Nudieland punk house shooting, which resulted in multiple injuries and the death of August Golden.
—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
All these young punks and musical savants appearing under the repressive atmosphere of the academy may require some suspension of disbelief (as does Lilisa’s gravity-defying hair).
—Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
The lower-cut model was designed for factory floors and workshops but was quickly adopted by punks and other subcultures.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 25 Nov. 2025
Berghaus embraced the punks and ravers, recognizing in them a version of the subversive spirit that drives the very best alpinists.
—Jeff Moag, Outside, 24 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punks
Noun
-
None of the skiers killed by the avalanche appear to have been novices.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
28 Feb. 2026
-
For seasoned cooks and kitchen novices, cookbook author and nutritionist Robin Miller takes it back to basics with great, family-friendly recipes worth making over and over again.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Democrats, though, have no problems releasing all these bloodthirsty thugs back into the neighborhood.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
-
In a season 3 teaser, Peter saves Suraj Sharma's Jay Batra from some thugs at a soccer stadium.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For beginners, there are four miles of novice trails and three miles of paved trail.—
Taylor Haught,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Group of beginners, hobbyists and professionals who enjoy taking and sharing photos.—
Staff Report,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Whatley said those policies threaten law enforcement officers and public safety, arguing that criminals belong behind bars and pledging to continue backing law enforcement.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The decisive action of the Mexican government is positive for families on both sides of the border who suffer the devastating consequences of the activities of these transnational criminals.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Unlike college students, apprentices earn money from day one when completing classroom instruction, often taking classes at night or in short blocks throughout the year.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
-
In 1936, construction of the performance venue was financed by local geishas and their apprentices.—
Leandra Beabout,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Together, the grimy pair start riding the rails across the country, watching movies starring Frank’s favorite actor, Ronnie Reed (Jake Gyllenhaal), and somehow sparking a feminist plot to overthrow the kinds of mean gangsters who killed Ida in the first place.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2026
-
After a career defined by playing gangsters, an avenging taxi driver and a paranoid prize fighter, the Oscar-winning actor recited a call for civility, as first spoken by Abraham Lincoln.—
Hillel Italie,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Now, the ball belongs to Tate, with varsity newcomers in junior Jenna Manfre and freshman Savannah Jones in the mix to help out.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing vie for reps with other newcomers.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Police arrested one of four snowball bandits caught on camera clobbering the cops with snow.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Traditional western dramas were more likely to depict vaqueros as bandits than hard-working ranch hands whose contributions were fundamental to the American West.—
Foreign Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punks. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
