gunk

noun

ˈgəŋk How to pronounce gunk (audio)
Definition of gunknext
as in dirt
foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something I have to wash my hands; I got gunk all over them somehow

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 gunk If the nozzle is clogged, Murahwa suggests using a toothpick to gently pick out whatever gunk is clogging it. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 20 Aug. 2026 Both liken it to a Hydrafacial, apt to suck all the gunk out of your pores. — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026 The best shampoos cleanse your scalp and hair from roots to ends, freeing it from buildup and gunk without stripping the scalp of natural and vital oils. — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 16 Aug. 2026 At some point, all that will be left is the gunk at the bottom of the storage containers, and physics will prevent the oil from flowing through those critical pipelines. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gunk
  1. dirt
  2. muck
  3. soil
  4. sludge
  5. sewage
  6. crud
  7. garbage
Noun
  • Working in quick, gentle strokes, Abrams used her brush and sprayer to peel away dirt hiding the floral details on Eliza’s grave before moving to the next.
    — Kimberlee Kruesi, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The other townsfolk speculate on his prowess, his package, and why The Fisherwoman has lost all the dirt on her face and is now positively glowing.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of dirt
Noun
  • Wolf has never sounded more grounded than with 10 toes down in the muck.
    — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
  • As feminists fought patriarchy’s attempt to render women vulnerable socially and leave us dependent on men for money and more, the all-too-human inevitability of vulnerability and dependence got lost in the muck.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of muck
Noun
  • Continuing to explore the hotel’s outdoor spaces, next up is the Almagra Rooftop, which gets its name from the originally Arabic word used to describe the typically reddish soil found in Seville.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The mangrove forest's mature trees and carbon-rich soils store earth warming greenhouse gases, said Marie Arnaud, a researcher at the French Sustainable Development Institute based at the Sorbonne University in Paris.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of soil
Noun
  • Tanks full of radioactive sludge exposed him to at least 48 potentially hazardous chemicals.
    — Lizz Giordano, ProPublica, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators have also removed drums containing an oily, sludge-like material from the property and have investigated the home for signs of wet cremation, when a mix of chemicals are used to break down human remains.
    — Joe Holden, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of sludge
Noun
  • In October 2025, scientists testing sewage in Hamburg, Germany, found wild polio.
    — Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Neeley said the floodwaters were receding but left mud and silt, much of which has been contaminated with sewage because of failures at waste plants.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of sewage
Noun
  • There used to be more opportunities, in other words, to separate the wheat from the crud.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 12 June 2026
  • This isn't just unsanitary—the buildup of crud could eventually interfere with your mixer's moving parts.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
Definition of crud
Noun
  • What makes a successful scooper Professional scoopers typically use basic tools like a rake, a dustpan lined with a garbage bag and a garden sprayer to sanitize tools in between jobs.
    — Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Pan Yan The substance is integrated into a transparent, medium-sized insert designed to fit onto a garbage bin lid.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of garbage

Browse Nearby Words

gung ho
gunk
gunky
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gunk. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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