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
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Recent Examples of gunk
For a meditation on human frailty, look no further than Clare Barron, a playwright deeply fond of bruises and bleeding, scabs and gunk.
—
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2026
Electric toothbrush owners know this same struggle, the gunk that builds on the bottom of a Sonicare is so ubiquitously understood, a few brands (like Suri) are creating wall-mount toothbrush holders compatible with their designs to keep things as sanitized as possible.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 23 Feb. 2026
Drains, Faucets, and Hardware Tight corners around drains and faucets are susceptible to gunk buildup, thanks to a combination of soap scum, hair, and grime.
—Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026
Once the gunk loosens, simply wipe the interior clean with a cloth.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gunk
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2026
Electric toothbrush owners know this same struggle, the gunk that builds on the bottom of a Sonicare is so ubiquitously understood, a few brands (like Suri) are creating wall-mount toothbrush holders compatible with their designs to keep things as sanitized as possible.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 23 Feb. 2026
Drains, Faucets, and Hardware Tight corners around drains and faucets are susceptible to gunk buildup, thanks to a combination of soap scum, hair, and grime.
—Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026
Once the gunk loosens, simply wipe the interior clean with a cloth.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gunk
Noun
-
When the populist demagogue Willie Stark orders Burden, journalist turned gumshoe, to dig up dirt on a local judge, Burden demurs; certainly there are no skeletons in the office of the good judge.—
Brenda Wineapple,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Body oil, dust, soap deposits, dirt and grime from your body that doesn’t make it down the drain can accumulate in tubs and showers that aren’t cleaned on a very regular basis.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As the men tumbled down the grade’s shoulder into muck and brush, the speeders rammed together.—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Volunteers have been showing up from across Oahu and even from other islands to help clear away muck and debris, Pierce said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Once soil health improves, many gardeners find that digging individual planting holes is sufficient for establishing crops.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Mulching your garden also helps your soil stay moist for longer.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The second is a 100-day sludge line that will poison the reserves oil-hungry nations are racing to drain.—
Siddharth Misra,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The smog season regularly did a number on our mile-high mountains, wrapping them in a brown cloak of invisibility until wind and rain swept the sludge away.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Graywater from showers and kitchens, sewage from onboard systems and industrial runoff can contain chemicals and contaminants that harm marine life and degrade water quality when not treated effectively.—
Steve Adelstein,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
-
About 18,000 gallons of sewage spilled near the intersection of Friars Road and Sea World Drive after a valve at a pump station failed, officials reported the morning of March 25.—
Point Loma-Ob Monthly,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That includes self emptying debris into a washable bin that should hold up to a month's worth of crud, cleaning its own mop pad with hot water and drying it with hot air, and self-refilling with clean water from a tank inside its dock.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Mar. 2026
-
That crud jams up the works of your coffee maker, slows brewing down, and impacts the taste of your morning brew.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Richter and Henke said the best way to avoid confrontations with coyotes is to eliminate food sources, whether by not feeding them directly, bringing pet food indoors or securing garbage.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Mar. 2026
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No matter how advanced the algorithm, garbage data in means garbage results out, just with a more polished interface.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gunk. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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