as in courage
the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship
had the spunk to overcome a severe physical disability
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spunk
Savannah Guthrie and her two siblings issued an emotional plea on Instagram for their mom's return, citing her spunk, her loving personality and her vulnerability.
—
Helen Rummel, AZCentral.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Animal-print chairs maintain a bit of spunk in the now bright, airy rooms, as do ornate dark wood bedside tables.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Each design also has its own energy and spunk!
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
Dallas’ defense showed some spunk, even factoring in the matchup against an offense that ranked 30th in the NFL coming into the game.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spunk
Helen Rummel, AZCentral.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Animal-print chairs maintain a bit of spunk in the now bright, airy rooms, as do ornate dark wood bedside tables.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Each design also has its own energy and spunk!
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
Dallas’ defense showed some spunk, even factoring in the matchup against an offense that ranked 30th in the NFL coming into the game.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spunk
Noun
-
The courage to make those choices and keep moving forward is what has defined my journey.—
Noor Lobad,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
But when a mysterious aircraft sinks into the ocean, Ally’s peaceful world is suddenly thrown into danger and is thrust into a journey real-life marine creatures as the film explores themes of friendship and courage.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House In San Leon, Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House will offer a Mother’s Day menu alongside Chef Joe Cervantez’s weekend brunch dishes, including lobster Benedict, hot chicken doughnuts, shrimp and grits and cold seafood platters.—
Ana Khan,
Houston Chronicle,
3 May 2026
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Unique is meant to embody that racial trauma, but Moore doesn’t possess the grit necessary to make the pain and sorrow resonate.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
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For Garcia, that sense of something built by instinct and fortitude is part of what makes the next chapter feel so charged.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Like my predecessors, my life has been grounded in faith and fortitude.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There’s bravery in how these artists are driven by conviction.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2026
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Passion isn’t practical, and bravery is required under the Scorpio full moon.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Training to Be Ellie Houston The performance has been months in the making, with Ellie deep in rehearsals and training to get her stamina half-time ready.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
9 May 2026
-
Used for stress, focus, fatigue, and stamina (NCCIH).—
Ryan Brennan
May 6,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
That mix of stubbornness and courageousness is what endeared Snider to fans and peers alike.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
15 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Hailing from Hartbeat and Alfred Street Industries, Funny AF was created by Hart with the goal of finding the next great voice in comedy with the guts, perspective, and punchlines to become the next household name.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
-
Lubchansky’s graphic novel is vivid and delightful, full of noodly limbs, swirling tentacles, and cartoon blood and guts.—
Emma Sarappo,
The Atlantic,
1 May 2026
Noun
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But part of the reason is that even with our most precise and accurate measurements that lead to a determination of the gravitational constant, those various teams and methods haven’t converged on a single answer.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 May 2026
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Dean was born in a small town in South Dakota, educated in a one-room schoolhouse, and through grit and determination built a small garbage business into Waste Management — a global company serving multiple continents with over $9 billion in revenue by his retirement.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spunk. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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