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
Relevance
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
Wash grates and filters in the sink with a sponge, using a nylon scrub-brush if needed to remove stuck-on gunk.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2025
Also all the extra ridges and divots just meant more places for gunk to get stuck in.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 6 Feb. 2025
Fire debris is washing up on L.A.’s beaches The gunk has turned up on shorelines from Malibu to Redondo Beach.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2025
The stars of this formula are upcycled makgeolli lees (a byproduct of Korean rice wine), honey, kaolin clay, and rice hull powder—which together sweep away the gunk residing in your pores, gently buff away uneven texture, and with consistent use, help brighten discoloration.
—Sarah Han, Allure, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gunk
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2025
Also all the extra ridges and divots just meant more places for gunk to get stuck in.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 6 Feb. 2025
Fire debris is washing up on L.A.’s beaches The gunk has turned up on shorelines from Malibu to Redondo Beach.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2025
The stars of this formula are upcycled makgeolli lees (a byproduct of Korean rice wine), honey, kaolin clay, and rice hull powder—which together sweep away the gunk residing in your pores, gently buff away uneven texture, and with consistent use, help brighten discoloration.
—Sarah Han, Allure, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gunk
Noun
-
It’s built to do sand, dirt, forests, streams with exclusive features like the FOX suspension, all-terrain tires, skid plates and a factory lift.—
Josh Max,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
-
From the washing machine to the dishwasher, dirt, dust, and other buildup can cause appliances to work harder than necessary, resulting in higher energy consumption.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The Clippers’ success lately isn’t just stemming from them making games ugly with their defense and slogging through the muck.—
Zach Harper,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Firefighting equipment is far more likely to get stuck or sink in the muck.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Two dark-brown mushrooms stuck out of the damp soil.—
Shayla Love,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Hydrangeas can be grown in almost any type of soil, but the soil must have good drainage.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
More than a billion gallons of coal ash slurry breached a containment pond, inundating 300 acres with toxic sludge and contaminating nearby waterways.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Only the Greater Los Angeles area distributed more sludge to farmers during the same period.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
As Portage residents get accustomed to a big jump in their sewer bills, the City Council is preparing to make sure developers pay more for their impact on the sewage treatment infrastructure.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2025
-
The violation says some 50 gallons of raw sewage in total pumped into the water.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Soap removes sticky spills, smeared food or mud; bleach might take out the stains left once the crud is gone.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2025
-
Too much crud on the vents can also affect the performance of your air fryer.—
Emily Farris,
Bon Appétit,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The organization also sampled 25 different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organic compounds that form when oil, wood or garbage burns.—
Corinne Purtill,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Town Councilman Tim Clayton said the new fee, which will be charged to residential customers, will be effective April 1 and is part of a contractual agreement with Republic Services, the town’s garbage/recycling carrier.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gunk. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share