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
The Cuckoo’s Nest/Zubie’s parking lot in Costa Mesa became ground zero for clashes between punks and cowboys.
—
Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 31 Aug. 2025
Their wild, psychedelic shows became a notorious rite of passage for punks and innocent civilians across the nation—Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love allegedly met at a Buttholes show in Seattle in 1991.
—Pat Blashill, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
My dad used to hang out with the punks in Montreal in the 70s.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 31 Aug. 2025
Their wild, psychedelic shows became a notorious rite of passage for punks and innocent civilians across the nation—Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love allegedly met at a Buttholes show in Seattle in 1991.
—Pat Blashill, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
My dad used to hang out with the punks in Montreal in the 70s.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punks
Noun
-
Instructors are on hand to teach novices.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
-
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,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Their neighbor, an older Jewish woman, gets arrested and Nazi thugs brazenly loot her apartment.—
Rabih Alameddine
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
-
As night falls, armed thugs roam the streets and families pick up guns to protect themselves.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
For beginners, Stanton and Linear recommend Zion, Yosemite, and Grand Teton.—
Essence,
Essence,
30 Aug. 2025
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Thanks to a generous promontory, setting top ropes for beginners here is simple.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Lawmakers in many states have changed the rules in recent decades to protect winners from being targeted by criminals and unscrupulous people asking for money.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Her Eco-Age consultancy, targeted by criminals and forced to close in 2024 after 17 years in business, had advised clients on industry developments, changes to government policies and practical guidance on how to avoid greenwashing.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Across the city, Guerin teaches young people, apprentices aspiring farmers and trains adults in the field of sustainable agriculture.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
2 Sep. 2025
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William Alexander’s adult SF debut grew out of a short story featured in The Sunday Morning Transport, about planetary courier Tova Lir and Agatha Panza von Sparkles, one of her baby bot apprentices—functionally, her foster children.—
Natalie Zutter
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Roman is later gunned down by Hasidic gangsters Lipa (Liev Schreiber) and Shmully (Vincent D’Onofrio), who take Hank hostage.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
-
Why couldn’t a child born into a family of gangsters from Newark, New Jersey, be Dante’s reincarnation?—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Or London City Lionesses, the WSL newcomers and disruptors in chief with the signings of Danielle van de Donk, Nikita Parris, Katie Zelem and Alanna Kennedy, to name just four of their acquisitions?—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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Fans can find more vegan, vegetarian, and health-conscious choices, such as those from newcomers Breadless and Cooking with Que.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Are there ways that notorious bandits have successfully robbed banks?—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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Swashbucklers, scoundrels, bandits and buccaneers will soon be bellying up to the bar inside a lively new pirate pub at Walt Disney World that’s already booked solid for the first two months and promises to be a must-have reservation for visitors.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punks. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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