as in stench
a strong unpleasant smell
the overpowering funk of rotten meat emanated from the garbage bin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in coward
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger
he may be a strong, athletic guy, but he's a real funk when it comes to donating blood
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 funk
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
The Japanese quartet take Ra’s skein of electronic noise as a starting point, wrapping it in a sizzling no wave funk beat, vocals that veer between incantatory and goofy, and bewitching mandalas of chimes and gongs.
—Reed Jackson, SPIN, 24 Apr. 2026
Spin Contributor, SPIN, 20 Dec. 2024
But Minchin and Alcock are an electric duo, their bristling anti-chemistry transmuting their characters’ respective funks from mostly unwatchable to genuinely compelling.
—Alexis Gunderson, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for funk
Noun
With Anthony sidelined, the Red Sox will hope the rest of their struggling hitters can break out of their recent funk without him.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
The Japanese quartet take Ra’s skein of electronic noise as a starting point, wrapping it in a sizzling no wave funk beat, vocals that veer between incantatory and goofy, and bewitching mandalas of chimes and gongs.
—Reed Jackson, SPIN, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
And there’s always more rising DIY stars on the horizon, ranging from rock to funk to pop to neo-soul.
—Spin Contributor, SPIN, 20 Dec. 2024
But Minchin and Alcock are an electric duo, their bristling anti-chemistry transmuting their characters’ respective funks from mostly unwatchable to genuinely compelling.
—Alexis Gunderson, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for funk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for funk
Verb
-
When shots were fired, hundreds of attendees ducked under tables or took cover inside the ballroom before being evacuated, and the event was subsequently postponed.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Trump being hurried off the stage unharmed and guests ducking for cover underneath their tables.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Players and coaches have become maddeningly mealy-mouthed, striving to avoid upsetting agents, sponsors, owners, fans, thin-skinned politicians, and whoever else might object.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who sits on the Housing and Homelessness Committee, said Friday the recommendations are intended to better align the city’s homelessness response with local needs while avoiding service disruptions and improving long-term coordination.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One group ripe for shunning is broadcasters such as Carlson and Alex Jones, who has also reacted strongly to the Iran war.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Top Republican pushes party to shun $300 million AI lobby.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The situation is also an opportunity for NASA to resume the kind of risk-taking that has been lacking to shake the agency out of a post-space-shuttle lethargy and to reignite passions for reaching a stretch goal under deadline pressure.—
Thomas Black,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The front car of the train appeared to jump the track, leaving passengers shaken.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge Edge rusher Anthony Smith led the Big Ten with 12 1/2 sacks last season.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
30 Apr. 2026
-
During her Senate hearing, Means dodged some questions about those stances.—
Brennan Leach,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The irony of the baseball game did not escape me, the two of us sitting next to each other, enjoying America’s pastime together, the way a father and son might do.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Ask Theo Epstein, who once escaped the Henry regime in a gorilla suit, only to return, win a second Series and then bolt for the Chicago Cubs.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Funk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/funk. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
