FOLK Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

folk 1 of 2

noun

ˈfōk

Definition of folk

as in family

folks plural a group of persons who come from the same ancestor her folks have farmed that land for five generations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in class

one of the segments of society into which people are grouped the working-class folk with no airs or pretentions

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in people

folks plural human beings in general c'mon, folks, let's get to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

folk

2 of 2

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of folk

Noun

The approximately 20-minute concerto draws on Venezuelan folk harp traditions and features a solo harp accompanied by a chamber orchestra. — Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 Turns out that whoever at their urban university up north briefed them on their task had also schooled them in how to interact with rural Ozark folk. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Adjective

This year, the event will feature more folk dancing groups, Plevrakis said, and guests can enjoy a DJ on Friday and Sunday, plus a live band on Saturday. — Christine Condon, baltimoresun.com, 13 June 2019 After Carly and Martina, indie band Half-Alive and folk musician Liza Anne finished off the series for the day. — Elena Weissmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3 July 2018 See All Example Sentences for folk

Recent Examples of Synonyms for folk

Noun

But others criticized the tactics used and family separations.

— Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026
To support the Rose family, those interested can contribute to a GoFundMe.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of family

Noun

The hostilities began as a month-long student movement over school conditions and teacher shortages in working-class suburbs before broadening into a larger protest movement against inequality, public spending cuts and the rising cost of living.

— Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
But, even then, American socialists walked a fine line—they were considered too radical for the mainstream and a mere bourgeois affectation by committed class revolutionaries.

— Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of class

Noun

Another 13 people were wounded on downtown Sacramento’s K Street and 10th Street, in what became the deadliest mass shooting in the city’s history.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
Organizers say more than 125,000 people are expected throughout the event, bringing in millions of dollars for the local economy.

— Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 19 June 2026

Definition of people

Adjective

One of its provisions would streamline Section 106 in similar ways — curtailing public and tribal input, narrowing the scope of analysis and restricting legal remedies for violations.

— Rachel Treisman, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026
Stations with support from other sources, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs for tribal stations and the state of New Mexico for stations there, did not receive funding.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of tribal

Noun

The Worth clan, especially the demure yet hungry-eyed adult daughter Penny, played by Gail Russell, nurses Quirt back to health after his opening-credits shootout with the Laredo gang — of which Quirt’s a member, looking to get out.

— Michael Phillips, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
The streamer and Shondaland announced Thursday that an untitled spinoff about the early life of the future matriarch of the Bridgerton clan is in the works.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of clan

Noun

The nonprofit has championed South Asian voices in film, art and storytelling since 2002, giving a platform to work on subjects such as caste, gender and sexuality.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
When Schaesta Ama outs him and kicks him out of their home, Payam comes to Mansur’s aide (albeit temporarily) but does not invite him up into his caste for more than an afternoon.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of caste

Noun

This collective nature has a layering effect, telegraphing a specific sense of style and humanity increasingly rare in the world of contemporary hotels.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
To Reynolds, Mai was an embodiment of the universal nobility of humanity – a far cry from Westminster Magazine’s depiction of the islander as no more than a cheap amusement.

— Saar Shahar, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of humanity

Adjective

Onscreen, this ethnic conflict allowed Ken-san and other kimonoed gangsters to be presented as pure, sincere, patriotic heroes fighting for traditional Japanese values against savage aliens as well as local, gun-toting yakuza.

— Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
The psychiatrist also highlighted how Latino youth are being bullied due to their ethnic background.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of ethnic

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folios

folk

folklife

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Folk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folk. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of folk

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

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Synonyms of folk

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to folk

'Folksonomy': Let’s Get Organized

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on folk

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes