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
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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
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The farmworkers' rights movement has always been powered by courage, by people willing to endure, to speak out, to demand dignity in the face of injustice.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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But if worthiness is measured by the courage to lead, the humility to listen, the wisdom to hold complexity and the sacred responsibility of walking with people through joy, loss and transformation, then women’s rabbinic leadership has already outgrown the narrow metrics of any centralized system.—
Rabba Sara Hurwitz,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Then men had the grit, the unfathomable grit, to claw back from a 19-point deficit to win one of the most dramatic games in the history of either team.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
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Lucky Strike is a visceral, emotionally resonant film that reminds us of the grit and ingenuity required to preserve our freedom.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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His displays of extreme fortitude aren’t limited to the mountains.—
Namir Khaliq,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
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Neither the governor nor the Colorado Legislature have the political fortitude to genuinely face the problem and develop viable solutions to ease the burden of Colorado’s property taxes.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The suicidal bravery of the Basij has become iconic in Iranian culture, including that of Basij child soldiers.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Apr. 2026
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That bravery deserves to be honored above all else.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Kids will learn how to do circus tricks and build stamina along the way.—
Jessie Dax-Setkus,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
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Even up 4-1 in the final 15 minutes, the Rapids kept pushing past the limits of stamina to find a fifth goal, both in the press and in the buildup.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 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
-
Many grasses evolved to be partly dispersed by herbivorous mammals, the seeds passing through guts with the bulky leafy tissue.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
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Alloway’s debut is a beautiful disaster that even at its weakest points has just enough glamor and guts to justify most genre girlies taking the journey eventually.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That work was on display this week as Thomas Jefferson High School junior Bella Smith helped younger students hunt for Easter eggs – a simple moment that mirrors her own determination.—
Robbie Owens,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Those determinations complete the World Cup’s 48-team draw, as well as the full schedule, as North America for the first time serves as host.—
Michael McGough,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spunk. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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