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
Howard preferred simmer to boil, sugar to sass, and never lacked spunk.
—
Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2025
His band, which included former San Diego guitarist Jose Rios, played with spunk and well-calibrated precision whether delivering uptempo funk and hip-hop numbers, tender R&B love songs or slinky reggae grooves.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2025
Those recordings hold up for their crystalline sound and youthful spunk.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
Further, students should embrace their true voice in the letter, showing their quirks, personality, and spunk.
—Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spunk
Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2025
His band, which included former San Diego guitarist Jose Rios, played with spunk and well-calibrated precision whether delivering uptempo funk and hip-hop numbers, tender R&B love songs or slinky reggae grooves.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2025
Those recordings hold up for their crystalline sound and youthful spunk.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
Further, students should embrace their true voice in the letter, showing their quirks, personality, and spunk.
—Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spunk
Noun
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The gathering is not passive remembrance, but a collective act of courage.—
Michelle Edgar,
Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Against a backdrop of a world divided, these teens rise with fire, wit, and unshakable humanity – delivering a masterclass in courage, conviction, and the kind of hope that refuses to be silenced.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
From favorites like collard greens and sweet potato casserole to updates on classics like potato salad and grits, these side dishes are like scooping up a bite of nostalgia.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
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But Ben’s defiance, instincts and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite — and a threat to the entire system.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In 1877, the poet Helen Hunt Jackson argued that winter is where fortitude gathers.—
Rafaela Jinich,
The Atlantic,
1 Jan. 2026
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And consider her father’s mental fortitude to play in a 1979 European Cup semi-final against German champions Cologne — and score with a diving header — three days after learning his brother, Hughie, and sister-in-law, Isobel, had been killed in a car crash just outside Glasgow.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
25 Dec. 2025
Noun
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And she was given the keys to bravery.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
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What was so heartbreaking and inspiring was the quiet bravery and resilience of the people in Ukraine.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But the stamina of his thought is exactly proportionate to the depth of his love for his subject.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
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Too many are still waiting for resources, for clear answers, for a path that doesn’t require super-human stamina just to survive.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That mix of stubbornness and courageousness is what endeared Snider to fans and peers alike.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
15 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Blood and guts are flying everywhere when silence takes over the arena.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
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Okonjo-Iweala had the guts to go for it.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Like her unprecedented sapphire engagement ring, her wedding tiara represented a determination to stay true to herself.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
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Here in California, our determination to defend our own laws, to hold fast to climate protections and civil rights, felt no longer like partisanship but survival.—
Jonathan Taplin,
Rolling Stone,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spunk. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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