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
-
Both asking for a raise and taking the mic at karaoke night require a lot of courage, so Mars and Uranus are here to help!—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The next wave of philanthropic courage is overdue.—
Felecia Hatcher,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Rough & Tumble — the name captures the sweat and grit of politics — has continued without interruption for 30-plus years.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
-
So did their affinity for launching long shots, and their grit and effort.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Honey in the Wound exists to acknowledge the fortitude of women who had to bear so much in silence for so long.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
-
His displays of extreme fortitude aren’t limited to the mountains.—
Namir Khaliq,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Deciding to become a gamer in your 30s is a specific kind of bravery.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Being gentle with yourself is a form of bravery, so go ahead and indulge your softer side.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Small, repeatable choices will strengthen your stamina.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Physical stamina and comfort preferences may evolve.—
Lauren Schuster,
Kansas City Star,
3 Apr. 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
-
As the Times reporters Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman revealed this week in their in-the-Situation Room account of how Trump decided to start the war, no one in his Cabinet of courtiers had the guts to challenge his mistaken assumptions.—
Susan B. Glasser,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2026
-
That’s really the heart and the guts of the story—these women who, against all odds, found a way to speak out.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Use that Martian heat to scaffold your own determination, strengthening you to handle long-term commitment.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
No stadium lights, no sponsors, just sheer determination.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spunk. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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