PUNK Synonyms: 456 Similar and Opposite Words

punk 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of punk

as in unacceptable

falling short of a standard she plays a punk game of tennis, so you won't have any trouble beating her

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in terrible

extremely unsatisfactory the acting in the movie ranged all the way from poor to punk

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sick

temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body I've been feeling punk today

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

punk

2 of 2

noun

ˈpəŋk

as in novice

a person who is just starting out in a field of activity an impertinent punk who was trying to tell senior colleagues how to do their jobs

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in thug

a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang the vigilante was hailed by some as a hero for standing up to the punks who had repeatedly threatened his family

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as in garbage

language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense claims made by cosmetic companies about their antiaging creams that turned out to be a lot of punk

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 punk

Adjective

English post-punk band is anchored by lead vocalist John Lydon. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 The Clash’s original line-up soldiered on until 1982, by which time punk rock had mutated into post-punk and new wave. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 23 Aug. 2026

Noun

The Last Days of Gomorrah, for instance, was shot in shopping malls, and boasts a punk look. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, Evanescence will bring its signature blend of hard rock and gothic atmosphere to the stage, while The Offspring will bring forth its punk-rock discography to the mix. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for punk

Recent Examples of Synonyms for punk

Adjective

Detection is no substitute for prevention, not when consequences are truly unacceptable.

— Andrew Ginter, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
The win won’t change what’s frankly been an unacceptable campaign for a program that was 18-1-4 just two seasons ago.

— Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of unacceptable

Adjective

The second storyline takes place in 2026 and concerns the murder of none other than Hal Jordan, who returned to Rushville as a social pariah after the terrible events that transpired 10 years before.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
The Eagles are struggling, the Cowboys look terrible, and the Giants don’t have a quarterback.

— OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of terrible

Adjective

The goats’ dire situation first came to light when a former dairy employee raised concerns after witnessing emaciated and sick animals on the property, the former employee told the Idaho Statesman last year.

— Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026
What’s interesting is that Conan Doyle got sick of writing Sherlock Holmes.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of sick

Noun

To capture some of that essence, Guitar Center is trying to make its stores a place to hang out for novices and pros alike.

— Phil Wahba, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
In the latest, The Big Cats Dance Party, a high-profile case falls to a novice sleuth while the agency’s founder is away.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of novice

Noun

Prosecutors said Aurora was one of seven children, ages 2 months to 17 years, who lived in an east San José house on Lancelot Lane that was filled with cockroaches, pet feces, garbage and mold.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Clean your car full of garbage elsewhere and don’t hold up a line of customers.

— Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of garbage

Adjective

Its argument is that insurers have been pricing wildfire risk the wrong way, by looking backward at statistics and sorting homes by zip code.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
The trailer begins as Ziegler’s Mae frantically asks family friend Benny, played by a sleepy Rob Lowe, for help after her big mistake — kissing the wrong brother between Graham Phillips’ Andrew and Elias Kacavas’ Theo.

— Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of wrong

Adjective

There’s a big data center that just came to my community not long ago and their community engagement was horrible, absolutely horrible.

— Dustin DeSoto, Vox, 16 Oct. 2026
After the third day of squirting an experimental drug up his nose, Dylan Meetze felt horrible.

— Amy Maxmen, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of horrible

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“Punk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punk. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of punk

adjective

noun

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